Seamus smash
SKY BET LEAGUE ONE STANLEY........................... 1 SCUNTHORPE.................. 1 JOSH COOK
SEAMUS Conneely’s powerful goal from just six yards out meant that Stanley once again came from behind to salvage a point at home to Scunthorpe in a game they should have won.
The result means John Coleman’s side are still unbeaten since the opening day of the season, but it was the visitors who left East Lancashire the hap- pier as chances went begging for the Reds in what was a frustrating afternoon in front of goal.
The early goings looked more than positive for Stanley, with the Visitors scrambling to block early shots from both Offrande Zanzala and Jordan Clark, who both looked in the mood for goals.
Sam Finley was energetic, building on what has already been an impressive start for the youngster, he looked to link with Callum Johnson on 17 minutes.
Snatching possession and driving well down the right flank, Johnson nipped the ball back to Finley who let fly from 25 yards and saw the shot just rise above the crossbar.
Finley grew in confidence and was leading Stanley’s attacks with strength and pace. In the 40th minute he looked to have run into trouble on the right side of Scunthorpe’s box, but, after jilting through two defenders squared his pass to Michael Ihiekwe.
The loan man dummied his touch, allowing the ball to find its way to an in-form Sean McConville who found Jak Alnwick equal to his effort, the Scunthorpe stopper ensuring his side were level at the break.
New Scunny boss Stuart McCall had plenty to think about as the teams left the field.
Stanley could have been three goals to the good and the men in yellow would need to show more if they were to get anything from the game.
There was no change in fortune early into the second period, however, and it was the home team streaming forward in droves.
Both McConville and Zanzala misfired in the early minutes, the latter still to open his account for the year.
After 56 minutes it was Alnwick once more to the rescue for United. After feeding Finley on the right, Clark darted a run into the box.
McConville received the cross and gifted the ball back to the Yorkshireman, who, in just two touches managed to take four defenders out of the game.
With the goal gaping he opted to take another touch, thus allowing Alnwick to claw back across his 6-yard box and get an outstretched arm to the effort.
Not for the fist time this season, chances had come and gone for Stanley with no goals to show for it.
They were made to pay on 80 minutes as the Iron opened the scoring.
A corner wasn’t dealt with by the Stanley defence and Cameron Burgess put the ball back into a dangerous area. Matty Lund rose highest to send the ball home in front of a jubilant away following who hadn’t had much to shout about up until then.
This would be cut short though, as barely a minute passed before Stanley were level.
Like Blackpool a week earlier, it came from a corner. After an initial block, Conneely smashed the ball home at the second time of asking on 82 minutes turning the home crowd’s frustration to celebration in the blink of an eye.
Yet, like their counterparts at the opposite end of the ground the songs were almost in vain for Stanley.
The fresh legs of Ike Ugbo beat Hughes and found fellow substitute Ryan Colclough on the edge of Stanley’s box.
After side-stepping Scott Brown, Colclough’s deflected shot looked to be heading away from an already committed Connor Ripley and into the back of the net.
The Stanley keeper clawed back across to save his blushes and the game ended all square.
That point ensures Stanley remain 8th in League 1 for the second successive week before welcoming Nigel Clough’s Burton Albion to the Crown Ground on Saturday.
The Reds again go in search of a first home win of the campaign, but Clough has been a scourge of Stanley in the past and Coleman will be wary of the side from Staffordshire who could go level on points with Stanley should they win.