Shaun Whalley scored on his 100th appearance for Accrington Stanley as they drew 1-1 at Charlton Athletic.

Whalley, who has had two spells with the Reds, headed Stanley in front on 28 minutes but Charlton came back.

The Reds pressed for the winner in the second half, having a Harvey Rodgers strike cleared off the line and a late Cody Adedoyin strike blocked, but couldn’t find the winner as they stay just above the relegation places.

Toby Savin came back into goal for the suspended Lukas Jensen with Sean McConville also banned.

Tommy Leigh returned from a three-game ban while Doug Tharme was back after injury and Whalley after illness.

Corey Blackett-Taylor proved an early threat for the Addicks and Mo Sangare headed against his own crossbar as Charlton posed the early problems.

Blackett-Taylor fired straight at Savin before Stanley grew into the game, Rosaire Longelo’s long range effort comfortable for Ashley Maynard-Brewer.

The Reds opened the scoring on 28 minutes when Mitch Clark’s ball to the far post was headed back across goal by Leigh and Whalley was unmarked in the six yard box to head home on his milestone appearance.

Stanley looked for a second with a couple of dangerous balls in the box with Aaron Pressley heading wide from one of them.

Charlton equalised on 37 minutes with a wonder goal from Fulham loanee Steven Sessegnon, firing home from 35 yards into the top of the net.

Leigh’s acrobatic overhead kick was straight at Maynard after the break as the Reds looked to get back in front while Jack Payne fizzed a dangerous ball across the area but Savin and the Reds defence did well.

Maynard-Brewer produced a superb double save on 67 minutes to keep out Whalley’s fierce strike and then tipping over Pressley’s follow-up.

From the resulting corner, the Reds appealed for handball but referee Darren Drysdale was having none of it.

John Coleman changed his front line in the 77^th minute with Matt Lowe and Adedoyin coming on.

And Lowe and Adedoyin were immediately involved on 80 minutes when the ball fell to Harvey Rodgers just out of the six-yard box but his shot was cleared off the line.

In the final minutes, Adedoyin was put clean through but, as he lined up to shoot, the Charlton defence got back to cover.

Charlon then could have won it though. Savin charged out of his area to deny Daniel Kanu in added time while Tyreece Campbell whipped a ball across the box which just needed a touch in a frantic finish.

Leigh cleared off the line in the 96th minute to deny Charlton a winner as the spoils were shared.

Stanley: Savin, Tharme, Rodgers, Sangare, Conneely, Clark, Leigh, Martin, Longelo (Nolan) Pressley (Lowe), Whalley (Adedoyin)

Subs: Isherwood, Nottingham,  Butler-Oyedeji, Fernandes

Yellow: Rodgers, Tharme, Conneely