Stanley Hold Firm As Dunbavin Has His Night

[The Alchemist]

A trip up the M6 to Morecambe always brings mixed feelings. I remember a New Years Day fixture being postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. In the subsequent re-arranged match at the end of the season they hammered us 5 0. I also remember Ian Craney’s slightly curving arrow of a shot that has been rightly immortalised in song. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
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Stanley recalled Webb. This made me happier. When the announcement of the Morecambe team was made, a gentleman behind me greeted every name with a shout of “Sh.te” It’s good to know that there is quality analysis of a player’s ability going on in the Accrington ranks. At times in the game he was spot on. Drench never inspires me with a confidence that some goalkeepers exude. Arthur has it and Ian Dunbavin is gaining it. To night he went a good way in reaching it. To my surprise, only a solitary streamer was launched onto the pitch as Stanley took the field.
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These observations are not supposed to be a blow by blow account of the game but just passing thoughts. A very impressive Roberts struck the bar only to see it rebound to safety with Drench nowhere near. So I was heartened when the ball appeared to bobble over Drench to give Stanley the lead. It confirmed my opinion of him. The fact that Stanley had scored released a myriad of streamers that covered Dunbavin’s goal. I therefore was not disappointed. I could say that the time taken to remove all the paper far exceeded the two minutes of added time but in the second half with no injuries and a few rapid substitutions the four minutes seemed very excessive. Morecambe’s threat in the first half was restricted to a header that Ian parried at point blank range pushing the ball away to safety in a truly excellent save and a diving save near his left hand post. Most of Morecambe’s threat came from his left hand side [The main stand]. Stanley finished the half with a ‘purple patch’ of control, passing and ball retention. So could they keep it up in the second half ?
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The answer is quite simple. No, they couldn’t. In a high tempo, tense game Stanley were forced back and Ian earned my respect with a number of truly excellent saves. Perhaps luck was involved, perhaps it was Morecambe’s ineptitude, perhaps it was just Ian’s night but the ball failed to beat him. I must add that the whole team battled in a cleanly fought contest and the team as a whole shielded Ian as much as they could. The ball flashed across Stanley’s goal on numerous occasions but Morecambe failed to convert.
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At the other end Stanley’s chances were few and far between. Ian Craney almost inched his way through after some remarkable exchanges in passing. McEvilly had a long range, but tantalisingly close header that Drench did manage to save under the bar. And then Mr. Halsey, although someway behind watched a defender climb all over D’Sane and virtually sit on him before deciding that no penalty would be awarded. In my last post I accepted that the Clayton End’s appeal for two penalties were perhaps without foundation. Here I felt it was a stone wall penalty and Mr. Halsey had got it wrong. Where is Gary Lineker et al for a decision like this.
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That Stanley hung on rather than controlled the game in the second half is fact. That Morecambe could not break down our defence is fact. The fact is Morecambe, you were not good enough in front of goal. In League Two failure to convert is very costly indeed.
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Upholding Traditional Values In The Modern Game

[Kiwi John]

Nice account ALCHY...thank you.

[Jesus_was_A_red_]

Dunbavin was superb last night. MOM just in front of Sean Webb in my view.

[Stanleymad]

Wonder if last nights great performance from Bavo is going to be the start of his return of confidence since last season & really still says a lot for our defence

[mrjdallen]

thanks for the intresting reading