THERE always seems to be drama with Matt Crooks.

The Accrington Stanley midfielder has tended to be in the thick of the action in his short career with the Reds so far and Saturday’s trip to Notts County was no different.

The former Huddersfield man notched his first Football League goal in the 89th minute to give John Coleman’s side a share of the spoils from a competitive and compelling game at Meadow Lane.

MORE TOP STORIES:

Stanley had the first clear chance when Seamus Conneely’s strike was deflected behind for a corner but most of the early action was at the other end with forward Adam Campbell blasting high and wide before producing an air shot when well placed in the box.

Soon Ricardo Moniz’s men would go closer still, with Graham Burke producing a looping shot that beat Reds goalkeeper Jason Mooney only to cannon back off the post as they looked to take the lead.

But it wasn’t one way traffic, with Crooks and Terry Gornell unable to capitalise on a Tom Davies flick on before Crooks beat two men to get into the area only be thwarted at the last and Josh Windass hit a free kick straight at Roy Carroll.

The major talking point of the first half came after 34 minutes and inevitably Crooks was at the heart of it, pole axed by a two footed scissor-style tackle from Stanley Aborah.

The visiting players were incensed as Crooks received treatment but that anger only increased when the Dutchman only received a yellow card.

Both sides could have been in front at the break with Carroll keeping a low strike from Piero Mingoia out with his legs and Mooney tipping a Liam Noble drive over the bar to ensure it was goalless at half time.

In the opening exchanges of the second half Stanley came under pressure, with Mooney making good saves from first Campbell and then Snijders, the latter coming when County had a numerical advantage and the Northern Irish keeper was Stanley’s last line of defence.

The resistance of the visitors lasted 75 minutes. It was the impressive Burke who found the breakthrough, ghosting into the box to head home Noble’s right wing cross unopposed from close range to make it 1-0.

Cue a Stanley response; Crooks was close to a spectacular 50 yard leveller when he chipped Carroll only to see Mawouna Amevor head the ball clear from the six yard box.

Gornell then headed straight at the keeper when well placed.

With four minutes left a crucial turning point was reached when Noble inexplicably jumped into a tackle with Windass and seemed to stamp on the Stanley man. This time ref Lee Swabey went straight for the red card and the hosts were, albeit belatedly, down to ten men.

It took just moments for the Reds to take full advantage. Sean McConville’s corner towards Matty Pearson flew back across the face of the box and Crooks reacted best to rifle the ball into the net and secure a point.

And it could have been three had Carroll not shown his class.

First the veteran bravely grabbed the ball to claim Adam Morgan’s cross with Gornell arriving before producing a wonderful save to tip a powerful shot from Mingoia around the post.