Boss delighted with defenders
ACCRINGTON ................ 1 ROCHDALE ..................... 0 SHELDAN KEAY
ACCRINGTON Stanley’s fine preseason form continued after they picked up a victory over League One Rochdale at the Store First Stadium.
A second-half goal from Shay McCartan was enough to give Stanley the victory against John Coleman’s former side.
Chances were limited for both teams in the match, but Coleman insists he was still pleased with the team’s efforts.
“I was entertained by the game and I thought we played some good football at times,” he said.
“Rochdale had a good side out and we had to adjust to their system and nullify them as a threat.
“We came up against a style of play that we haven’t been used to but I thought we dealt with it really well and defended well too.
“It was another clean sheet and the lads have got an appetite for those at the moment so that’s a good thing.”
Despite the win, it was the visitors who had the first chance when Donal McDermott’s raced his way past the Stanley defence and powered a shot at goal, but Ross Etheridge managed to turn the ball behind for a corner.
Stanley took control of the game from that point onwards, with Tom Davies heading a Josh Windass free-kick over the bar.
The duo linked up again moments later, with the defender getting on the end of a cross but his effort hit the post.
Windass then tried to get in on the act himself when he curled a free-kick over the wall, but the opposition goalkeeper was equal to the strike.
Stanley still had to be alert at the other end, clearing a dangerous Joe Bunney cross just before half-time that could have fell to a number of Rochdale players.
The second-half saw Accrington pick up right where they left off before the interval, and Windass was again causing the majority of problems.
Matt Crooks also went close, but Stanley just couldn’t find the accuracy to get the ball over the line.
Rochdale nearly made them pay for their missed opportunities when Bunney’s effort rustled the goal, but he could only direct the shot into the side netting.
Coleman’s men finally made the breakthrough midway through the second-half when McCartan got the opener for his side.
Piero Mingoia had a shot parried away by Josh Lillis, but the ball fell to the youngster who turned it home from the edge of the box to make it 1-0.
Accrington made several changes, with goalkeeper Jason Mooney coming on in place of Etheridge.
He was called into action almost immediately when he brilliantly turned a McDermott freekick over the bar, before then making a superb point-blank save from Ian Henderson.
Stanley tried to threaten again during the closing stages of the game but they couldn’t create any clear-cut chances, meaning they had to settle for a 1-0 win.
The victory is Accring- ton’s sixth out of their seven pre-season games, with 20 goals scored and four clean sheets kept during that time.