Barlaser blasts

EMIRATES FA CUP FIRST ROUND STANLEY........................... 1 COLCHESTER UTD ......... 0 SHELDAN KEAY

ACCRINGTON Stanley moved into the second round of the FA Cup after picking up a hard-fought victory at home to League Two Colchester United.

On-loan midfielder Daniel Barlaser scored the winning goal as Accrington came out on top at the Wham Stadium and knocked Colchester out of the competition.

Stanley boss John Coleman was pleased to see his side triumph in the game, but feels that there are still improvements to be made.

“Colchester have been riding high in League Two and you could see why in the game. It was probably the hardest draw we could have had. They are scoring goals, their confidence was high and they are a good side,” he said.

“They had a great chance early on when we were guilty of giving the ball away, but once we settled in we could have scored a few more. It’s always nervy at 1-0, but we’ve still got to be more clinical in front of goal.

“That’s what is letting us down a bit at the moment, as we don’t see to be taking the chances that we are creating.”

While his team made hard work of it at times, the victory was made even sweeter for Coleman because he has fond memories of a previous clash between Accrington and Colchester from 15 years ago.

His team were in the Conference while Colchester were two leagues above, so it shows just how far the Reds have come in that time.

“I remember playing Colchester in the FA Cup in 2003/4 season. We were in the Conference at that time and they were in League One and it was the highest attendance at my time here at that stage, around 4,000,” he said.

“I remember coming into training and people were queuing down Livingstone Road for tickets. I remember, with one minute to go, Paul Cook heading the ball and it rattled against the crossbar. So it went to a replay and they beat us at their place.

“To be in the league above Colchester now, if someone had said that at the time, we would have thought they were daydreaming.”

Colchester were lively in the opening stages of the game, as Harry Pell’s curling effort was pushed out by Reds goalkeeper Connor Ripley, before he was then required a few moments later to deny a powerful Sammie Szmodics strike.

Colchester’s task was then made more difficult when they lost both Tom Eastman and goalkeeper Rene Gilmartin in the opening 30 minutes due to injury.

Stanley grew into the game from that point onwards, and it didn’t take them long to fire past Colchester substitute goalkeeper Dillon Barnes as Barlaser made the breakthrough on 34 minutes.

The midfielder hit a shot that looped up off Pell and found its way into the bottom corner to hand the home side the lead just after the half hour mark.

Accrington remained in front at the interval, and they almost added a second goal when Sean McConville went close with his 30 yard strike,