ACCRINGTON Stanley further illustrated their League One capabilities with a creditable 1-1 draw against Charlton Athletic.

The Reds  have slipped seamlessly into the third tier and this point, against a side who  made the play-offs last season and are tipped to challenge for promotion again this time around, was more proof that the players can back up boss John Coleman’ assertion that they can more than hold their own at this level.

At times on Saturday afternoon Stanley struggled, they looked short of ideas as they tried to unlock a well organised and dangerous Addicks side. There were times when the hosts surrendered possession cheaply as they persisted with a noble ‘play it from the back’ style, while the need for reinforcements in attack were laid bare as an isolated Billy Kee lacked support and struggled to find his way into the contest.

But to dwell on those shortcomings would be to overlook all that is good about this Stanley side.

They have heart, character and determination amongst a long list of qualities.

And they roused themselves for a final flourish to dominate the last 20 minutes. The Reds swarmed all over a tiring Charlton. Roared on by a lively Clayton End they were rewarded when Jordan Clark stroked home after Sean McConville and Scott Brown had been denied.

The hosts could have won it, substitute Offrande Zanzala went close with a header while Clark should have done better with a tame stoppage time effort.

The visit of the Addicks was a further reminder of the level Stanley are now operating in. When the Reds won the Conference title in 2006, Charlton finished mid table in the Premier League, reached the quarter finals of the FA Cup, beat Liverpool and were the only side not to lose away at runaway champions Chelsea.

Twelve years on the sides met as equals in the third tier, the first league meeting between the teams.

Lee Bowyer’s men reached the play-offs last season and took the lead on the quarter hour. Lewis Page was afforded too much space down the Charlton left and the wing back capitalised, galloping forward and delivering a peach of a cross. Karlan Grant met it with a firm header which bounced down off the underside of the bar and was ruled over the line by the assistant referee on the far side.

The Addicks were the better team once they had their noses in front and created the clearer chances in a half punctuated by foul after foul by both sides.

The frequency of Ross Joyce’s whistle prevented either side from building momentum but it was Charlton who looked the more likely with Grant, Lyle Taylor and Darren Pratley coming close.

Stanley’s best effort came in stoppage time when Sean McConville worked himself a yard of space on the left and his dangerous cross was glanced just wide by Kee.

The Reds frontman had hardly been in the game, well marshalled by a back three and struggling with a foot injury, and was replaced early in the second period by Zanzala.

The Addicks had begun the second half the brighter with the excellent Connor Ripley in the home goal denying George Lapslie at his near post and then comfortably holding Taylor’s effort.

But there was a pendulum shift midway through the second period and the buoyant Reds secured a share of the spoils thanks to Clark. Indeed, Coleman felt his side were unfortunate not to pinch a winner given their late pressure.

In the end a point was fair and provided further proof that Stanley will have no trouble coping at this level.