Tom Aldred’s goal put Accrington Stanley into the hat for the third round of the FA Cup as they drew 1-1 at home to Yeovil Town.

The defender’s cool finish from eight yards cancelled out Jordan Clarke’s opener, the full-back had turned home Sam Foley’s free-kick to put the League One strugglers ahead after half an hour.

But Aldred’s first goal of the season means that the sides must meet again at Huish Park in 10 days’ time to decide who takes that place in round three.

John Coleman was forced into two changes for the tie as both John O’Sullivan and Sean Maguire were denied permission to play in the competition by their parent clubs Blackburn Rovers and West Ham United.

Shay McCartan, a goalscorer in last weekend’s 3-2 defeat against Exeter City, and Kal Naismith took their places in the team as Stanley looked to make it into the third round for the first time since 2009/10 season.

Yeovil’s captain Joe Edwards had the first effort of the match but his low shot was easy for Jack Rose to smother.

The recalled Naismith had Stanley’s first chances as his effort from Mingoia’s cross was deflected wide before he narrowly missed out on making contact with a wicked McCartan delivery from the right wing.

The Reds then spurned a glorious opportunity to take the lead as McCartan’s flick around the corner sent Crooks skedaddling away and he found himself one-on-one with visiting goalkeeper Jed Steer but the striker put his effort wide of the target.

At the other end, the dangerous Ajay Leitch-Smith worked himself some space to get a shot away but skipper Luke Joyce threw himself in the way to send the ball wide.

Michael Liddle had a shot from the edge of the penalty area blocked and Sam Foley saw an effort for the Glovers saved by Rose as the two teams traded blows without landing a telling blow.

That changed minutes later and it was the League One outfit who took the lead after half an hour as Foley’s inswinging free-kick was glanced home by Clarke from close range in the middle of a crowded penalty area.

Edwards lashed wide from 25 yards as Yeovil took a stranglehold of the contest and held a slender advantage at half-time.

Stanley came out reinvigorated after the break; Mingoia drilled in a cross that Stephen Arthurworrey was on hand to clear after it bypassed Steer into the six yard box.

Crooks forced Steer into action again with a snapshot following a penalty claim for handball. The goalkeeper spilled the shot but gathered the ball at the second attempt as it rolled slowly towards the goal with McCartan unable to force it over the line.

Substitute Josh Windass, who replaced the injured Andrew Procter, had a shot from 25 yards on his weaker left foot but it trickled wide of the upright.

Naismith thought he should have had a penalty when he was clumsily bundled over at the near post by Ben Nugent but referee Sebastian Stockbridge ignored the protestations of the Stanley players and gave a corner that Yeovil managed to defend.

The Reds got the goal that their incessant pressure deserved shortly after the hour when Rob Atkinson fed the ball to Aldred inside the area. The central defender, making his 86th consecutive start, managed to get the ball out from under his feet and finished superbly by clipping over the advancing goalkeeper.

Coleman’s men had dominated the entirety of the second half and could have won the game when McCartan met Joyce’s cross with his head and the ball looked destined to find the bottom corner and send Stanley into the third round but it bounced back into play off the frame of the goal with Steer reduced to a spectator.

Yeovil almost won the tie in stoppage time as a deep cross found the unmarked Arthurworrey but his free header was superbly tipped over the top by Rose to keep Stanley in the cup and put them into the third round draw on Monday evening.

Stanley: Rose; Winnard, Aldred, Atkinson, Liddle; Joyce, Procter (Windass 43); McCartan, Naismith (Molyneux 79), Mingoia; Crooks (Carver 75).
Subs not used: Simpson, Hunt, Barry, Gray.

Attendance: 1,440 (306 away)