Striker Mo Eisa scored his sixth goal of the season as Cheltenham Town secured a deserved point at high-flying Accrington Stanley in the Sky Bet League Two.

The lively Eisa took advantage of some static defending to lift the ball home as the Robins took the lead against their third-placed opponents in Lancashire.

The lead lasted just two minutes as the home side – who had earlier hit the bar through Liam Nolan - responded when Kayden Jackson slotted home as the teams went in level at the break at the Wham Stadium.

The second half saw Cheltenham create the better chances with Jerell Sellars and Freddie Hinds forcing fine stops from Aaron Chapman in the closing stages as both teams settled for a point hard-earned.

Cheltenham made one change to the starting line-up as Nigel Atangana replaced Kyle Storer, who was ruled out with a calf injury. Jamie Grimes took the captain’s armband.

It was the home side who made the brighter start with Jackson looking to use his pace in behind while Grimes had to be alert to stop a spitting cross from the right flank from Jordan Clark with Billy Kee behind him.

Jackson fired a low shot across goal before he should have opened the scoring when he latched onto a long ball, held off Cranston but was brilliantly denied by Scott Flinders as he rushed out of his goal.

Cheltenham responded when some patient play in midfield led to Brian Graham threading a neat ball through for Dawson. However, with Chapman to beat he poked his effort wide of the right post.

Accrington continued to look dangerous up top with Billy Kee lifting over a cross that Grimes did well to nod home with Jackson lurking behind, before Kee’s header from Sean McConville’s ball was deflected over.

A retreating Atangana then superbly stopped Kee on the edge of the box with a last ditch tackle before Stanley came inches from the opener.

Clark’s cross almost fell to Kee at the back post before being swamped by yellow jerseys. The clearance, though, fell to Nolan who from the edge of the box struck a sweet drive that cracked against the bar and was hacked clear by Winchester.

Almost immediately the Robins, who had been under pressure for a sustained spell, pounced at the other end through leading marksman Eisa.

Harry Pell whipped in a ball from the right and, after the defender and goalkeeper backed off, Eisa intelligently lofted the ball over both and into the unguarded net.

The lead lasted two minutes as Stanley swept upfield and the dangerous Jackson got in behind the last man and slid the ball home.

There was still time for one glorious chance for the visitors as a training ground move from a free kick allowed Morrell and Dawson to feed Graham but his shot rose over the bar.

Atangana had a chance at the start of the second half, as he latched onto Morrell’s clever pass but could not get off a shot as he was crowded out.

The Robins made a double change up top, with Danny Wright and Freddie Hinds introduced, and Wright’s physical presence caused immediate issues and forced a corner that Taylor Moore almost bundled home at the back post.

Sellars was thrown into the action in the final 15 minutes and twice came close, with a second deflected shot superbly finger-tipped over by Chapman.

And deep into injury time, Hinds forced another fine save from Chapman as he let fly with  spitting shot from range.

CHELTENHAM TOWN: Flinders; Cranston, Grimes, Moore, Winchester, Pell, Morrell, Atangana (Sellars 75), Dawson, Eisa (Hinds 62), Graham (Wright 62). Subs not used: Flatt (Gk), O’Shaugnessy, Boyle, Davey

ACCRINGTON STANLEY: Chapman, Forbes, Hughes, Donacien, Nolan, Clark, Jackson (Wilks 55), McConville, Rawson, Conneely (Brown 86), Kee. Subs not used: Wolland, Dallison, Sykes, McLeod, Johnson

REFEREE: A Haines

ATTENDANCE: 1,321 (87 from Cheltenham)