NPOWER D2 SEMI FINAL 2nd LEGThis is it the big one!!! We've all been waiting for the game to make or break our season.
Accrington Stanleys BIGGEST game to date if not ever
Stanley welcome
Stevenage Borough (The Boro) To the crown ground in this L/2 semi-final 2nd Leg this coming Friday 20/05/2011 with a 7.45 KO,with
Stevenage having the edge from the first leg its up to the Red men of
Stanley to take the game to our visiters,with a sell out crowd behind them cheering and willing them on
WE ARE THE TWELFTH MAN Last time out at the Crown Ground...
Date : Sat 20th Nov 10
Game : Accrington Stanley 1 v 0 Stevenage Borough
Scorers : McConville 66
Att : 1370
Comp : League 2
Accrington Stanley secured their first league win in seven with a 1-0 victory over Stevenage at the Crown Ground.
Jimmy Ryan put in a man of the match performance to provide the assist for Sean McConville’s 66th minute goal, which turned out to be the winner.
With just five minutes gone Ray Putterill found space in midfield to release McConville down the left. His low cross found Stanley's number ten, who forced a terrific save from Stevenage keeper Chris Day.
With 23 minutes gone Putterill was released down the right and looked to knock it past Darius Charles and had a hopeful appeal for handball waved away by referee Peter Quinn.
Things looked to be heating up, with some hard tackles coming in from both sides. Terry Gornell was defending from the front for Stanley. The front man was unlucky to charge down a clearance from Keeper Day and see it rebound out for a throw.
When Gornell looked to be breaking, Boro left back Charles brought him down and received a yellow card for the challenge. From the resulting free-kick Ryan stepped up and had a speculative strike saved comfortably.
Moments later captain Andy Procter was played in down the right and delivered a great cross into Putterill who just couldn’t control the ball.
Stevenage almost took the lead with a last gasp strike before half-time Jay O’Shea found space in the area to release a powerful shot which rose over the crossbar.
0-0 at the break reflected a quiet first half and the second period started in a similar vein.
With 55 minutes gone there was a melee in the penalty area between 18 players, the initial trouble seemed to be between Chris Holroyd and Putterill. The referee deemed there was no wrongdoing from either team and no cards were produced.
There were more decisions to talk about than openings, with Procter booked for a tackle on Ronnie Henry. With the referee struggling to control the players, Reds defender Phil Edwards was fouled by Michael Bostwick. A challenge that should at least warrant a yellow card received no such punishment.
With challenges flying in from both sides Holroyd struck for Stevenage but his effort was ruled out for a foul in the build up.
John Coleman’s men went straight back at Boro and Ryan whipped in a great ball to McConville. The winger managed to flick the ball past Day to put the Reds one up.
Stevenage looked to get back on level terms and Beardsley forced a smart save from Ian Dunbavin.
With Coleman looking to change things, Andy Parkinson was introduced for Putterill in the 71st minute.
Captain of Stevenage Mark Roberts was turned easily by Gornell and brought down Gornell in an attempt to get the ball back. The former Accrington Stanley man picked up a booking for the challenge.
With five minutes left to play Coleman’s men nearly doubled their lead a neat lay off by Gornell saw Parkinson bend his effort narrowly wide of the post.
After the allotted 90 minutes of play the fourth official signalled for an additional five minutes of play. For the final minutes goal scorer McConville looked to be carrying an injury and Coleman replaced him with Andrew Owens. Boro continued to try and find an equaliser but the Reds defence stayed firm to claim a well needed three points.
Stanley: Dunbavin, Edwards, Long, Hessey, Winnard, Putterill (Parkinson 71’), Procter, Joyce, Ryan, McConville (Owens 90’), Gornell.
Back to this Friday nights game,Boro will sell all there allocation for this game! so with this in mind whats your Guess on the attendance? here we go with Guess The Gate I'll go for 4,745 Everyone welcome to have ago Good luck everyone As this is a home game the winner will recieve an Offical Accrington Stanley Team Sheet signed by both home and away teams managers ...
Pleases note guesses with ish + or - or their abouts or around will be deemed an invailed guess and wont count GOOD LUCK
PLUS AN EXTRA PRIZE!!! A £5 GIFT VOUCHER TO USE IN THE STANLEYSTORE KINDLEY DONATED BY LEW....STANLEYSTORE MANAGER...... I BELIEVE DO YOU