Accrington Stanley 0 - 0 Stevenage Borough: Crossbar frustrates Accrington as odd team out in promotion chase

Accrington hit the woodwork three times but their goalless draw with Stevenage meant they had to settle for a place in the League Two play-offs.

In front of a record crowd at the Wham Stadium of 4,386, the Reds could not find a way through and dropped to fourth in the league.

It was a nervy first half with only half-chances for both sides.

Stanley's Josh Windass, Tariqe Fosu and Billy Kee all fired wide from distance while Stevenage's Adam Marriott had a deflected shot which just crept wide of the post.

The closest either side came was in the 35th minute when Tom Conlon's 30-yard free-kick skimmed the crossbar.

After the break, it continued to be a cagey affair with Stanley boss John Coleman putting on Scott Brown and Shay McCartan as they looked for the winner which would secure the promotion.

And McCartan's first action on 74 minutes was to rattle the crossbar with a fierce strike.

The woodwork denied Accrington a winner again on 81 minutes when Matty Pearson's looping header hit the crossbar.

And once again Stanley could only find the bar as a McCartan header again crashed against the woodwork with two minutes to go.

With other results going against them, Stanley had to settle for the play-offs where they will face AFC Wimbledon.