STANLEY kept up their run of scoring in every home game this season to take a point against Newport County in sodden conditions at the Wham Stadium.

The Reds were twice behind in the East Lancashire rain but rallied with goals from Billy Kee and Matt Crooks to go four matches unbeaten in all competitions.

The elements were the main talking point ahead of kick off, with two days of bad weather leaving plenty of surface water on the pitch but John Coleman’s team started well, with Crooks forcing an early save from Joe Day and Sean McConville seeing an effort deflected to the ‘keeper.

They could have been ahead in the fifth minute when Crooks played in Josh Windass inside the box and his drive from a tight angle was kept out by Day’s legs.

As a spectacle it was far from pretty but the visitors were proving to be obstinate and gave little away after the opening 15 minutes. They created openings of their own too, with Alex Rodman shooting over and Medy Elito skidding one wide of the left post.

Stanley came closest to a goal in the first period from the best move of the half. Again Crooks and Windass were involved, with the former flicking the ball deftly to the latter for him to square for Piero Mingoia, whose shot beat Day but cracked against the post.

There was more of the same after the restart with Newport thankful to defender Scot Bennett for a key tackle on Crooks inside the box but it was John Sheridan’s men who broke the deadlock.

Lenell John-Lewis provided a warning with a curling shot just wide before sub Yan Klukowski gave the Welsh side the lead.

Stanley were down to ten men after Dean Winnard had limped off and their visitors capitalised with Klukowski meeting Jazzi Barnum-Bobb’s right-wing cross to superbly find the top corner.

The joy of the visiting supporters wouldn’t last though, as Stanley hit back inside five minutes. Windass got in behind the defence and squared for McConville but his shot was cleared off the line only for Kee to follow up and rifle in his sixth goal of the season.

With the ball stopping in some places and players slipping regularly, the game opened up and it had a more end-to-end feel.

Sure enough, the pendulum then swung back in Newport’s favour, with Klukowski turning provider. He got away down the right and delivered for fellow sub Scott Boden to sweep home and make it 2-1 to the visitors.

Mooney then punched out a John-Lewis shot that deflected up off Matty Pearson but before long the teams were level again.

This time all the credit had to go to Seamus Conneely, who pounced on a partially cleared ball 25 yards from goal and hit a spectacular shot that came back off the frame. Crooks was on hand for a left-foot tap-in to make it 2-2 and register his seventh goal of the campaign.

The closing minutes saw conditions worsen and though Stanley were forced back they weren’t unduly tested. They’ll have to wait a few months to register a first win over Newport.