IT WAS honours even in every respect at the Wham Stadium as 10-man Accrington Stanley drew 1-1 with 10-man Carlisle United.

Hallam Hope gave the visitors an early lead only to see the goal cancelled out by Terry Gornell.

The game had barely started when the visitors saw their numbers reduced.

Stanley full back Brad Halliday was caught in the chest by the high boot of Jabo Ibehre and referee Jeremy Simpson brandished an immediate red card. Replays suggested it was a harsh decision.

It seemed to make little difference to Keith Curle’s side who took the lead in the 10th minute.

It was a moment for Stanley to forget as Hope seized on a back pass and kept his cool to clip the ball past Ross Etheridge from a tight angle.

The Cumbrians had a chance to double their advantage too, with Charlie Wyke flicking a David Atkinson throw onto Jason Kennedy only for the midfielder to loft the ball over the bar.

It took half an hour for the Reds to get going, with Sean McConville blasting well over the top before Rommy Boco, one of two enforced changes, saw a goal ruled out for offside.

The last five minutes of the first half brought the best openings for John Coleman’s men, with Andy Procter heading wide before Billy Kee met Buxton’s free kick at the far post only to see his effort scrambled off the line.

In five minutes of added time Buxton hit a speculative low drive that had goalkeeper Mark Gillespie worried but flew wide of the post.

A half-time change ultimately made a big difference for the Reds, with Gornell introduced in place of Boco. The home side then set about finding a way back into the game.

First Procter saw an effort deflected before Gillespie turned a fine strike from McConville round the post.

It would get worse before it got better for the home side, with Buxton receiving his second yellow card after a clash just outside the Carlisle penalty area.

But as against Crawley at the weekend being reduced to 10 was immediately followed by a goal, which was brilliantly taken by Gornell.

A corner wasn’t cleared by the visiting defence and sprung back to McConville on the left and he clipped it to the edge of the six yard box where Gornell showed predatory instincts to nod home his third goal of the season.

With the number of players evened up it was now an open game, with Etheridge saving from Hope at the far post before Gillespie made a crucial contribution.

This time Gornell tried his hand at being provider, flicking the ball to Kee who got the ball out of his feet in the box and drilled a low shot goalwards only to find the Carlisle keeper in inspired form, saving superbly with his legs.

There were half openings at both ends in the closing stages but it was largely the Reds exerting pressure without being able to unduly test Gillespie.

Carlisle sub Alex Gilliead did force a late save from Etheridge but it was routine stuff for the keeper and Coleman’s team couldn’t find a winner.

Stanley: Etheridge, Buxton, Pearson (Davies 37), Wright, Halliday, McConville, Procter, Conneely, Mingoia, Boco (Gornell 46), Kee