STANLEY manager John Coleman has always said teams make their own luck but he must have wondered if he had walked under a ladder before Saturday's UniBond Premier League clash.

Two deflected goals gave Whitby Town an early advantage while the home side had countless chances which were cleared, saved or inches wide.

It was a frustrating afternoon for Coleman who must have thought they could have extended their winning streak to four matches, especially after adding to the squad with the £4,000 signing of David Robinson on Thursday.

The midfielder signed from Runcorn and went straight into the action with Paul Howarth, who came from Shrewsbury in the summer, starting in the backline in place of the injured Robbie Williams.

But it went wrong almost immediately when, on ten minutes, Richard Dunning -- brother of Ewood star Darren -- raced down the left wing, took the ball into his area and his shot took a deflection off a Stanley player which wrong-footed Reds keeper Jamie Speare.

Two minutes later and it was a re-run when Ian Williams tried his luck from 14 yards out and the ball hit skipper Jay Flannery on the side of the head and again looped over Speare to put shell-shocked Stanley two-goals behind.

The Reds always looked like they would score with Lutel James and Paul Mullin up front but they could not find a way past in-form Town keeper Phil Naisbell before the break.

Mullin did once get the advantage of the goalie but defender David Goodchild was back to clear Mullin's firm header off the line.

Unmarked Flannery headed straight into the keepers arm and Naisbell pulled off a good save from a tight angle to deny the lively James on the stroke of half-time.

Coleman had gone without wingers for the last three games with plenty of success but he needed to do something and introduced transfer-listed Gary Williams onto the right at half-time while Russell Payne started on the left to add some width.

Steve Flitcroft moved from left to right wing to link up with Williams and they caused Whitby plenty of problems.

A Flitcroft corner was headed on by Mullin and Payne at the far post flicked it wide within minutes of the restart.

And James had a superb chance to get one back when he beat the keeper in the area and from an acute angle fired goalwards but, as was Stanley's luck, the ball hit Graham Liddle's outstretched leg and went wide.

And as the Reds pressed they were caught on the break. Graham Robinson evaded a couple of challenges on the edge of the area on the hour, his shot was superbly saved by Speare but bounced nicely for Ian Williams who rifled the ball in off the underside of the crossbar to make it a flattering 3-0.

The Reds were give some hope just four minutes later when Mullin got the ball on the right, fired in a perfect cross which Simon Carden side-footed home low into the net.

Jonathan Smith saw a header go just wide, Mullin tried his luck from 20 yards but it was inches over the crossbar and Carden slid onto Gary Williams' cross but could only send the ball way off target.

But on 75 minutes, Stanley made sure there was all to play for as Flitcroft's ball in found Smith and he powered a header into the net from about 10 yards and the Reds looked set for a good comeback.

And they should have equalised, Smith hit the post with another header but the referee had already blown, James' shot from close range was inches wide while Mullin headed over. And, in the dying seconds, sub Mark Brennan fired just wide when it seemed the glory was his. A crowd of 502 was willing them on but lady luck had deserted Stanley.

RESULT: ACCRINGTON STANLEY...2 WHITBY TOWN...3