ACCRINGTON'S hopes of cup success in the Unibond Challenge Cup are still alive and well, but they had to run themselves into the ground to ensure that was the case.

To have one goalkeeper sent off is dramatic enough, but to have his replacement removed as well - and all inside the first 45 minutes - definitely moves matters into crisis proportions.

Stanley's ten and then nine defended superbly and even created more chances than their rivals, but they fell to a last minute goal from Martin James after the second substitute keeper - skipper Pete Cavanagh - had failed to reach a through ball.

The previous two holders of the yellow number one shirt, Jamie Speare and Barrie Hart, were sent off by Durham referee Neil Swarbrick after 12 minutes and 41 minutes respectively.

Speare saw red after he had raced out of his area to contest a ball with Park Avenue striker Jason Maxwell and, as the ball took an awkward bounce, instinctively handled.

Full-back Barrie Hart took the shirt and looked thoroughly comfortable between the sticks until the 41st minute when again Maxwell chased a through ball, the Stanley player raced out of his area and the referee construed his challenge to have been illegal and - after Hart had three minutes attention to a leg wound - produced a second red card.

Stanley boss John Coleman contested both awards and said: "The first incident was bad enough as their player was two yards offside which forced Jamie to come out.

"My real disappointment was that I don't consider it was a goal scoring chance. There were four people around the incident and the ball had bounced a good four feet up in the air - if anyone is going to score from that position they are going to have to be Pele.

"To me that was just a yellow card, but the second decision was an absolute disgrace.

"If the referee doesn't think that our keeper was fouled then he should have a look at the gash from his groin to his knee.

"It should have been a foul for us, and as for it being a goalscoring chance, well the ball ended up by the corner flag - no one can score from there!"

Despite being depleted in numbers Stanley were in control of the contest for long periods and even before Speare's departure striker Paul Mullin and defender Jonathan Smith had gone close to giving them the lead.

And even a man down they were on top and on 20 minutes they had a Mullin 'goal' from a bullet header after a neat build up involving Russell Payne and Dave Robinson disallowed for offside.

Bradford struggled to get into the game and the biggest test Hart was given during his 29 minute stint between the sticks was an Andy Hayward shot which he dealt with confidently.

At the other end Park Avenue keeper Rob Montgomery needed to be at his best to tip over a measured chip from Simon Carden.

The biggest scare for Stanley came on 45 minutes as Cavanagh settled into his new role in goal as Hayward found Maxwell but his header from eight yards came back off a post.

The second half was epitomised by Stanley defended resolutely, centre backs Jonathan Smith and Steve Halford being outstanding in a team of heroes, and lone striker Mullin ran himself until he dropped chasing the chances that came his way.

It was not until the last minute that Stanley cracked when Andy Quinn's ball forward tempted Cavanagh off his line, he was beaten in the race by Maxwell and James was on hand to turn the subsequent cross into the net.

"We were great, and not just defensively because we made the best chances as well," said Coleman.

"On another day we probably would have won 3-0 but, while it would have been better to hang on for 0-0, I think at 20 minutes we would have been happy if you had told us we would come out of it just one down.

"It certainly gives us a chance in the second leg and if we show the same appetite and desire we should have an opportunity to take the cup."

The pair meet again in the second leg at the Crown Ground on Tuesday, April 30.

BRADFORD PA...1 ACCRINGTON STANLEY...0