"WE DON’T really do draws," admitted Stanley boss John Coleman - and this is especially the case for the fiery clashes against derby rivals Morecambe.

Going back to 2003/4 when local rivalries resumed in the Conference, the Reds and Morecambe have met 11 times - including cup games - and one side has always managed to bag the bragging rights.

And Sammy McIlroy’s side will feel hard done by that they weren’t the Lancashire side boasting on Tuesday.

Lady luck had deserted Stanley on Saturday with a late dubious Wycombe winner but the Reds got their share of fortune on Tuesday when an own goal gifted them a dream start on just five minutes.

And they should have gone 2-0 up on nine minutes but John Miles wasted the chance.

But, after that, the Reds goal did lead a charmed life with Morecambe hitting the woodwork twice and having snap shots at Kenny Arthur’s goal as they enjoyed the better of the derby exchanges.

However the Reds managed to stifle them after the break although not before the Shrimps had got back on level terms.

And it was the ironically named Morecambe player Craig Stanley who fired in a free kick which flicked off the head of Phil Edwards and into the top corner of the net.

The general consensus was that it was going in anyway but own goals, sending offs and dubious decisions seem to be all part and parcel of the Stanley-Morecambe rivalry.

And the two managers had different views of the match with Coleman definitely the happier.

The Reds boss said: "A draw was probably a fair result. Morecambe hit the bar twice in a spell in the first half and they will be disappointed they didn’t score.

"But we were sick we never went 2-0 up with John Miles clean through.

"I am disappoininted we conceded so early in the second half as I thought, the longer we kept ahead, the more Morecambe would become disjointed as they chased the game.

"I guess we both scored - but neither of us managed to do it in the correct goals!"

McIlroy wasn’t having any of it as his side took their winless run to nine games - and one league victory all season.

"We could have been 3-1 up at half-time and there would have been no complaints," said the Shrimps boss.

"We hit the bar twice and had balls across the box and we just couldn’t take our chances. That has been the story of our season so far.

"I am disappointed that, once we scored the equaliser, we did not go on and win it but they changed their system and put a lot of men behind the ball.

"But if we have that little bit of luck we can turn the corner."

The Lancashire derby is a widely anticipated clash by both sets of fans and it was a shame it was such an icy night in Morecambe as any undecided fans might have opted to stay inside and warm instead of on the chilly terraces.

But the 313 Stanley supporters were immediately warm hearted thanks to the gift of the opener on five minutes. Jimmy Ryan and Robbie Williams worked down the right flank and the defender’s ball in came off the knee of Henry McStay and it into his own net - with Terry Gornell pressing.

"Terry is insistent he got something on it," said ex-Morecambe prolific frontman Coleman. "People know me around these parts and know I would have claimed it if it was me!"

And it should have been two minutes later when Miles beat the off-side trap and charged free into the area but chose to pass than have a go and his cross to Gornell, waiting in the area with the goal at his mercy, was not an accurate one.

However then Morecambe - playing five at the back with wing backs Adam Yates and Manchester City loanee Ryan McGivern pressing forward at pace - caused problems for the Stanley solid back four.

Yates chipped a ball over while Peterborough loan striker Rene Howe pounced on a Phil Edwards loose ball but teenager Aaron Taylor couldn’t finish.

Then McGivern played a superb ball in which Stewart Drummond belted forward - and he was turning to celebrate a goal but it hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced out.

Thirty seconds later and it was deja vue when a Stanley corner found Taylor and again the woodwork kept him out much to the frustration of the Morecambe bench.

The Shrimps’ 5-3-2 formationwas helping them control the game and they had more chances through Drummond, McLachlan and Stanley before, on the stroke of half-time, McGivern had a free header but fired it across the goal rather than at Arthur.

Coleman had to change it at half-time and he went to three at the back with Chris King pushing further forward on the left.

And the former TNS man had quite a lot of joy with runs into the Shrimps box as Stanley enjoyed spells of pressure after the break.

But the damage was done four minutes after the restart when Shrimps midfielder Stanley - believed at one time to be the subject of interest from the Reds - fired in a free kick which was deflected into the net.

It could have gone either way then as the second half was more balanced with both defences on top.

Miles looked a threat on the ball at times but didn’t see enough of it to give the Morecambe back line - well marshalled by Jim Bentley - too many problems.

But Kieran Charnock did the same for the Reds defence as they held firm despite the bustling style of Wayne Curtis adding a different dimension to the Shrimps attack on the hour.

Curtis did have the ball in the net but he had man-handled Williams off the ball in the build-up and Premiership referee Mark Halsey rightly pulled play back.

Coleman put on a new threat of his own in Rochdale loan man Kallum Higginbotham 15 minutes from time and he did almost force Danny Adams into making a mistake but Morecambe recovered to clear the danger.

The final 10 minutes were played out mostly around the Reds area without Arthur being seriously troubled and the game somewhat petered out.

"In the first half, Morecambe caught us on the hop with their formation and so we had to change it at the break and then, in the second half, we defended really well," said Coleman.

"Robbie Williams was outstanding and won his aerial battles while Terry Gornell is a handful and lively around the box.

"We played some good stuff but our deliveries were not the best.

"It was a derby game played in a good spirit and everyone showed a smashing temperament. There was no quarter asked or given and there was nothing malicious.

"A draw was the right result for me."