FC Halifax 0 Stanley 0

John Coleman admits he will be working on Stanley's attacking threat this week after they failed to score in their final pre-season friendly.

After losing 2-0 to Barrow midweek, the Reds couldn't find the back of the net again at Conference North side FC Halifax on Saturday.

The Reds were without striker Billy Kee, who scored 17 goals last season, as he recovers from a shoulder injury ahead of the League Two kick off against Doncaster Rovers on Saturday.

And Shay McCartan hobbled off injured midway through the first half after suffering a dead leg last week and being tackled on the same leg at The Shay.

However Coleman was pleased defensively as Stanley kept a clean sheet - with goalkeeper Aaron Chapman, making his first start for the Reds, saving a penalty.

Former Chesterfield keeper Chapman was busy in the first half, spectacularly keeping out Jordan Burrow’s point blank header while defender Daniel Hone had a free header which thankfully went straight into the goalie’s arms.

There was a big chance for the Conference North side on 29 minutes when West Brom loanee Callam Jones was judged to have brought down lively winger Josh MacDonald in the area but the penalty from Burrow’s was comfortable for Chapman.

Stanley were limited to long range efforts with Terry Gornell and Bastien Hery both trying their luck while Rommy Boco, who came on for McCartan, caused the home defence problems.

Elliot Parish replaced Chapman at the break with former Burnley midfielder Steven Hewitt on for Hery as Coleman looks for someone to fill Piero Mingoia’s boots on the right wing.

Stanley enjoyed plenty of possession after the break but it was Halifax had a great chance when MacDonald raced down the right wing and played in a superb ball which 6ft 9in striker Tom Denton was centimetres from connecting with.

At the other end, Terry Gornell clipped the ball just over the Halifax bar while Hewitt had a strike blocked after great work by Boco.

The game erupted in the 78th minute following a tackle by Scott Brown on Hone which saw a fracas and both Hone and Gornell were asked by to subbed by referee Aaron Jackson.

Both sides failed to find the back of the net in the final minutes as Stanley now focus on their League Two campaign.

Stanley: Chapman, Jones, Beckles, Hughes, Pearson, McConville, Conneely, Brown, Hery, McCartan, Gornell

Subs: Parish, F Shaw, Boco, Goulding, Hazeldine, Hewitt, Wall, Webb, Sykes, B Shaw