Hughes strike
SKY BET LEAGUE TWO STANLEY........................... 1 NOTTS COUNTY .............. 0 JASON JONES
MARK Hughes came up with the goods as Accrington Stanley took a huge step towards League One football with an exhilarat- ing 1-0 win over promotion contenders Notts County on Easter Monday.
A highly entertaining affair with no shortage of chances was decided by the defender’s composed finish in the ninth minute.
The win made it nine in a row at home for John Coleman’s men; a new club record.
The Stanley boss was forced into two changes from the side that dramatically saw off Mansfield on Good Friday. Janoi Donacien returned to the side, while goalkeeper Jonny Maxted was handed a debut after first choice stopper Aaron Chapman was involved in a car crash hours before kick-off. Chapman was taken to hospital as precaution.
The opening exchanges set the tone for a breathless encounter that could easily have finished with a far greater scoreline, but it was Stanley who made the breakthrough early on when Hughes latched on to a lofted Seamus Conneely diagonal.
After setting himself, the defender fired across the keeper first-time to find the bottom corner.
So began a thrilling back and forth, with both sides going close repeatedly. Jonathan Forte rattled the bar with a diving header for County, before Kayden Jackson stung the palms of keeper Adam Collin.
Collin put in a heroic display for the most part, keeping Kevin Nolan’s side within touching distance of Stanley with a series of fine saves. A deflected Tyler Forbes shot in particular had him scrambling across his line to defiantly claw the ball away.
The second half saw Stanley take the initiative, and they almost increased their advantage but for an impressive double save from Collin. Conneely’s effort from the edge of the box was parried by the County keeper, but he recovered well to tip the ball away and deny the lurking Jackson a tap-in.
As the half progressed Accrington continued to have the better of the play, and had a penalty appeal turned away after Billy Kee was felled in the box.
A well-worked move ended in a Callum Jackson cross, and in the ensuing melee the Accrington forward went to ground following some robust County defending.
Referee John Busby ignored the shouts of the home crowd and waved play on.
Next it was the turn of Jordan Clarke to pass up an opportunity to double Stanley’s lead.
A smart cut-back from Kee found the winger in the area, but he could only slice his effort wide of the mark.
For all of their pressure Accrington continued to live dangerously. County are serious promotion contenders and it would be difficult to completely suppress a team that poses the level of threat they do.
Despite sustained periods of Stanley dominance there were glimpses of County’s attacking capabilities. Their best chance fell to Matt Virtue-Thick, who directed his free header off target, much to the relief of most inside the Wham Stadium.
Stanley kept on pushing for a second goal, but were met by the resilient Collin once more.
The keeper denied Jackson again with a smart save from close range after the Stanley striker combined well with his partner Kee in the County box.
With the final whistle approaching, County squandered another golden opportunity to find a leveller. Substitute Jorge Grant won possession in midfield and shifted the ball out wide to Carl Dickinson.
The full back cut inside and delivered a cross into Michael O’Connor, whose deft flick found Grant in space on the penalty spot. The forward took a touch, swivelled, and blazed his effort just wide of the upright.
After that scare Stanley dug in, and never looked like relinquishing their lead. The result means that Accrington sit top of League Two with a three point lead and two games in hand over second- placed Luton Town. John Coleman’s men are also 11 points clear of fourth with seven games remaining.