Seamus reckons Barnet draw could be vital
SHELDAN KEAY
ACCRINGTON Stanley captain Seamus Conneely insists his team’s point at Barnet on Saturday could prove to be extremely important by the end of the season.
It looked like the Reds were heading for defeat in the game at the Hive Stadium, but Billy Kee scored a penalty with around 20 minutes to go to ensure the match finished 1-1. While his side may have missed out on the victory, Accrington still remain in the automatic promotion places and Conneely thinks it could be a vital point in their quest to reach League One.
“It could have went either way and I was happy with the point in the end as they finished the game strongly and John Akinde got in behind us a couple of times. Hopefully at the end of the season we look back and think that was a good point,” he told the club’s official website.
“It was a difficult game and I think it was a point gained in the end. They started off on the front foot and made it hard for us, but that was what we expected to happen, so we’re a bit disappointed with ourselves – we didn’t match them for that first half hour.
“We had a good spell towards the end of the first half when we finally got a grip of the game, then I thought that we started the second half very well. The first 25 minutes was all played inside their half and I thought the equaliser was fully deserved.”
Conneely also believes earning the draw shows the improvements made in recent months.
“I think before Christmas we’d have lost that game,” he said. “But, we stayed positive, we created plenty of chances and forced our way back, I thought the penalty was a brave decision from the referee but the right decision – there was a definite push but a lot wouldn’t have given that to the away team.
“We’ve played a lot of games since Christmas and there’s a lot of tired legs out there. We will use this week well, we’ll get a good week of training in and be ready for the Cambridge game next Saturday.”