Sean Maguire scored a brace as 10-man Stanley drew 2-2 with play-off chasing Stevenage.

Nicky Hunt was sent off within 90 seconds for an incident on the far touchline but Maguire put the Reds in front.

Simon Walton levelled within five minutes from the penalty spot as Lloyd Jones was penalised for handball, only for Maguire to score his second and restore the lead for John Coleman’s side.

It seemed like the Reds were going to hold out for an impressive three points, but Chris Beardsley struck from close-range late on to rescue a point for the visitors.

The manager made one change from the 1-1 draw at Hartlepool on Tuesday night with Dean Winnard coming in for the injured Gerardo Bruna, meaning Adam Buxton pushed forward into a left midfield role.

Terry Gornell was named on the bench completing a three-match ban for his red card in the derby draw with Morecambe on Good Friday.

The Reds were dealt an early blow as Hunt saw red for his involvement in a fracas over on the far touchline with Charlie Lee. That forced a tactical reshuffle with Buxton moving across to his natural position of right back.

Stevenage looked to use their one-man advantage to control the contest, but Chris Whelpdale’s low shot from the edge of the penalty area was easy for Scott Davies to collect.

Despite being a man down, Stanley were playing well and hit their visitors on the counter-attack to take the lead.

Josh Windass collected the ball on the left wing and surged past the static Dean Wells before pulling it back for Maguire, who side-footed into the bottom corner for his sixth goal of the campaign.

However, the lead lasted less than five minutes as Lloyd Jones was penalised for handball. Walton rolled the penalty into the bottom right corner of the net to level the scores.

Stanley remained a threat after the Stevenage equaliser as Maguire sent a shot over the top of the bar and Windass’ left-footed drive forced a smart save from Chris Day at his near post.

The Reds were much the better team and got the goal their football deserved when Luke Joyce laid the ball into the path of Maguire from Dean Winnard’s throw and the Irishman coolly slotted across Day to double his tally for the afternoon.

Buxton fired in a shot from range which Day did well to hold and Windass just failed to get on the end of a clipped cross from Seamus Conneely as Coleman’s side looked to double their lead.

It took until the hour mark for either side to register an opportunity with Maguire sending Windass through on goal, but the in-form midfielder saw his effort saved by Day before the goalkeeper stopped a cross from Windass reaching Luke Joyce.

Dean Parrett brought a save from Davies with a stinging 20-yard drive before the goalkeeper collected a header from Wells following a corner.

At the other end, Piero Mingoia worked himself some space for a shot from 20 yards but could only roll it the wrong side of the post.

Stevenage were looking for a way back into the game in their bid for a play-off spot, but Parrett’s free-kick deflected behind off Conneely and Tom Conlon’s header from 12 yards out was caught by Davies.

After putting Stanley under pressure for a sustained spell, Graham Westley’s team found their second equaliser of the game when Bira Dembele nodded down a cross which Beardsley bundled over the line.

There was to be no grand finale, though, as both sides were forced to settle for a point apiece.

Stanley: Davies; Hunt, Atkinson, Jones, Winnard; Mingoia, Joyce, Conneely, Buxton (Liddle 90); Windass; Maguire (Gornell 75).
Subs not used: Warner, Barry, McCartan, Naismith, Gilchrist.

Attendance: 1,351 (132 away)