LAST minute goals can send fans into raptures - or into despair. But Stanley are having that sinking feeling all too often this season.

For the third time at home, the Reds threw vital points away with a last gasp goal.

Against Bradford in October the Bantams scored three goals in the last 10 minutes - the winner coming in injury time.

And two weeks later, against Wycombe, there was a 94th minute disputed off-side winner for the Chairboys.

Then on Tuesday night, Bees hitman Jordan Rhodes hit a 94th minute volley for a late, late equaliser to send Brentford to the top of the table.

It was agony for Stanley fans, management and players alike who must have felt a morale-boosting three points were in the bag as time ticked on against the promotion-chasers.

But instead they were left feeling robbed and one supporter bemoaned the late heartbreak.

"If you asked me before the game, I would have been happy with a point but now this feels like a loss," he said.

And boss John Coleman agreed as he could not hide his own fury at referee Craig Sarginson who allowed the four minutes of injury time - despite just two substitutions althouth there was treatment for Peter Cavanagh and Phil Edwards.

And, with just 30 seconds of that remaining, Ipswich loan star Rhodes sent the small pack of travelling fans wild.

"Where did the ref get four minutes from?" questioned Coleman after the game.

"I think that was the tip of the iceberg from the referee as I can’t believe so many decisions could go against you.

"It is easy to level blame at referees but I go to games and see six substitutions, numerous stoggages and, when we are chasing the game, just two or three minutes are put up. This time, it was as if it was going to get handed to Brentford on a plate and they took it."

While part of his fury was vented at the Staffordshire official, the Reds boss was also mad at his defence as keeper Ben Hamer took a desperate throw in, Andy Halls found Rhodes who volleyed home the leveller.

"Despite all that, we should defend the four minutes. We have defended well for 93 and a half minutes and then gone to sleep," said Coleman.

"I can understand if it is a desperation ball into the box but he has passed it through our defence and with 30 seconds to go, that’s criminal.

"Brentford had come here with a game-plan to play the long ball and the only football they played was when they scored. It is hard to take."

Hard to take indeed after Stanley volunteers and the youth team had battled to get the game on after the snowy and frosty conditions.

The pitch was passed fit on Tuesday afternoon and that was good news for the club who needed to get the cash flow through the gates especially with Brentford travelling down the day before.

Coleman changed the side who had lost to Shrewsbury in their last encounter, bringing in John Mullin and captain Cavanagh who have battled with injury in recent weeks.

And on-loan Liverpool striker Craig Lindfield made his full Stanley debut up front alongside Paul Mullin.

The pair worked together well, linking up as Lindfield is an energetic player with a good touch.

And the home fans got their first glimpse of another loanee John-Paul Kissock from Everton and the wideman again showed the problems he could cause when he is on the ball and racing down the wing.

But the most impressive show belonged to centre half Edwards who was outstanding at the back against Rhodes.

Not that there were many first half chances. Kenny Arthur was required to finger tip over a Rhodes header in the first minute but that was it for real action for the Stanley stopper.

Instead it was his Bees counterpart Hamer who was the busier.

He couldn’t keep hold of a Jimmy Ryan 20-yard free kick but the ball was eventually cleared.

The former Liverpool trainee was his bustling self, running the show in the centre of the park.

And Leam Richardson - who has only scored one goal in his Stanley career and that was against Brentford last season - saw his 30-yard effort pushed away.

Towards the end of the half, Stanley upped the tempo with a John Miles corner causing chaos in the box with an effort cleared off the line while Paul Mullin got the ball from a Cavanagh free kick right in front of goal - but scuffed his shot and failed to trouble Hamer.

And it looked like the Reds would pay for this immediately after the restart when the Bees 15-goal hitman Charlie MacDonald got the ball unmarked six yards out.

But he unbelievably rifled it into the side netting as the fans waited for the net to bulge.

They were still recovering from that when Kissock got the ball on the edge of the box, managed to evade a tackle and keep the ball and squared unselfishly for the unmarked Ryan who was running through.

He is more used to long range efforts but this strike, from 10 yards, did the business and nestled in the back of the net.

That was just three minutes after the re-start and there was still a long time for the Reds to hang on.

The Bees had to go on the attack bringing on tall striker Nathan Elder while Coleman tried to shore up his defence by bringing on defender Colin Murdock for winger Kissock in what was a stop-start game.

One of Murdock’s first tasks was to clear the ball off the line after MacDonald set up Elder just four yards out. His strike again looked destined to hit the back of the net but veteran Murdock somehow got back to hook the ball clear off the line.

The Brentford fans were in disbelief and were even more outraged when the referee failed to award a penalty after Elder took a tumble in the box under a challenge - that would have been harsh.

And then Lindfield had the opportunity to make himself an instant Stanley hero with 16 minutes to go when he burst through unmarked, charged into the area but skied the ball much to his own fury.

Time was ticking on with a couple of goalmouth scrambles - but nothing serious - and Stanley were keeping the ball in the corner to let the time run down whenever they could.

Then came the gasp as four minutes was shown by the fourth official. It was getting desperate for the Bees and their keeper took a throw, it eventually came to Rhodes and he sent his side to the top on goal difference.

Rhodes had scored against the Reds earlier in the season for his then loan club Rochdale and the whistle blew immediately after.

"It is hard to find positives as I feel so low," said Coleman. "It is two points dropped. Craig Lindfield was exceptional - and his work rate is what we need and it is a pity he didn’t take his chance at the end.

"The draw is hard to stomach though as I didn’t expect to put up with the amount of fouls given against us that weren’t fouls and the amount we didn’t get that were fouls. It makes you question your sanity."