Left-back Barrie Hart took over the number one jersey, but he followed suit just four minutes before half-time. The referee deemed his challenge on Jason Maxwell was worthy of a red card, and off he went too - leaving the Reds down to nine meny and Peter Cavanagh as the new goalkeeper.
A supremely colossus display by the nine remaining players in the second half kept the game scoreless until the very last minute, when Martin James connected with a cross to leave Cavanagh helpless and give Avenue the most slender of leads for the second leg.
The amazing performance keeps Stanley in with a good chance of winning the trophy when the secong leg takes place at home on Tuesday 30th April.