Akpan denies Stanley win

Hope Akpan fired a late equaliser for Crawley to deny Accrington Stanley a first away league win for eight months, as the sides drew 1-1.

Defender Peter Murphy gave Stanley the lead from close range six minutes before the break, but Akpan came off the bench to rifle Crawley level from the edge of the area following a throw-in by David Hunt 10 minutes from time. Substitute Michael Doughty almost snatched victory for Crawley, winners of their previous seven games, when his 25-yard effort struck the crossbar. The unmarked Josh Simpson wasted an opening for Crawley just before the break when he miss-kicked in a good position before Murphy gave Stanley the lead with his side's first goal in over seven hours. Murphy lashed the ball into the roof of the net at the far post after Charlie Barnett delivered a deep free-kick. Crawley midfielder Andy Drury was off-target with a header at the far post and later forced keeper Ian Dunbavin to save low down from his shot from outside the area.