THE statistics state that Accrington Stanley hit the woodwork twice and had 15 good efforts on goal at the Lawn.

But it's the all-important goalscoring statistic that counts - and relegation-threatened Forest Green won that one.

Despite just having three attempts on goal all game - and one on target - the delighted Brewers took it and the three points to the devastation of Reds manager John Coleman.

Quite how Stanley lost this game is a mystery but the Interlink chief is aware that he is saying this all too often this season.

Points have been thrown away at Northwich, Gravesend, Farnborough and Tamworth - and it could all count for too much come the end of the season shake-up.

Stanley did find Green's keeper Dean Williams in inspired form but the game should have been out of sight.

Steve Flitcroft hit the woodwork twice, Paul Mullin was denied by the keeper's outstretched leg; Craney was denied by goalie Williams' knee - although there was some wayward shooting - while the shot-stopper pulled off a wonder save to deny a certain Jonathan Smith goal late on.

And these were just a few of Stanley's non-stop chances.

"I was close to tears for the last five minutes on the bench," said Coleman. "It is frustration more than anything. We had seven or eight players who have put in really good performances. They have had a 15 minute spell of pressure and capitalised.

"We have wasted three points as the chances we have missed have defied belief. You only had to look at their reaction at the end of the game.I'm devastated.

"It is hard to criticise the players as there wasn't a great deal wrong with the performance. Robbie Williams did well - I am amazed no league club has come in and took a chance on him as did Mike Flynn. Steve Jagielka was magnificent, a shining example, and Ian Craney was inspired - apart from his finishing.

"You can dress it up however you want but the best team lost. If we had won 3-1, Forest Green couldn't have complained. But I am a great believer in that the harder you work, the luckier you get and we will keep working and eventually the tide will turn."

Stanley started with purpose with Mullin, Craney and Lee McEvilly all linking up well together but unable to find the finishing touch.

Both sides gave the ball away too much in the first half but Williams was unlucky when he headed over a Steve Flitcroft corner on 15 minutes while the Brewers top scorer Charlie Griffin was left unmarked early on but he missed the goal by a long way with a header.

After last week's confidence boosting goal, most of the vocal Stanley fans would have put their money on Mullin scoring in the 30th minute. McEvilly and Craney broke quickly and carved open the Forest defence but Mullin's left foot shot from 12 yards out was kept out by the legs of keeper Williams.

Flitcroft then wasted a chance when Peter Cavanagh sent him charging through as he skied the effort but he made amends by creating an opportunity for himself from 30 yards out but his strike clipped the crossbar.

And then there was more agony for the Reds as another fantastic chance went begging.

A Flitcroft free kick on the left hit the bottom of the upright and bounced up to Robbie Williams whose firm header was fumbled out by the keeper. The ball fell to unmarked Craney on the right who blasted goalwards - but the heroic Williams managed to recover and held onto the ball on the goalline.

With Stanley being thwarted at every turn, the Brewers came out with purpose in the second half but still the Reds battled with McEvilly firing over and appeals for handball after one Flitcroft cross into the box.

Then Forest Green reduced Coleman to tears. The dangerous Des Lyttle found time and space on the left flank in the 64th minute, and his cross picked out the head of Griffin at the far post and he set up one-time Stanley target Mark Beesley to flick the ball home.

Coleman had already been gearing up to put Rory Prendergast on and he did it then with more urgency.

And, as the Reds pressed, the home side almost fashioned a second goal but sub Richard Appleby charged through but fired inches wide.

Stanley then threw everything but the kitchen sink at Green as they went on the hunt for what would have been a deserved equaliser. In one goalmouth scramble, McEvilly, Prendergast and Steve Jagielka all had a go but without reward.

Paul Cook came on and then Smith and it seemed an inspired subsitition when, with four minutes left, Cavanagh's ball in found Smith eight yards out but his point blank header was superbly saved by the star man Williams.

And, with 92 minutes on the clock, Mullin headed down Paul Crichton's free kick and set up Craney who evaded a challenge but he screwed his shot wide of the far post - much to all the home fans and his manager's anguish as the final whistle blew.