Reds rise up to Play-off spot
ACCRINGTON Stanley defeated close neighbours Rochdale 2:1 last weekend to lift the Reds into the Sky Bet League One play-off places. Two goals in two minutes meant for the second time in as many games Stanley were able to come from behind to take all three points against the side from Greater Manchester.
Stanley started the game well and on nine minutes could have taken the lead.
Colby Bishop, back from injury looked to celebrate regaining his place in style by grabbing his first league goal of the campaign.
Bishop was able to turn and force a good save out of a frantic Rochdale keeper to wet his whistle for the weeks to come.
The games first meaningful chance came the way of the visitors. Jake Beesley played the ball into Alex Newby and the Summer signing from Chorley went on his first trademark run of the afternoon that would keep Toby Savin on his toes throughout the match.
Coleman had added yet another Chelsea loanee to his squad: 21-year-old goalkeeper Nathan Baxter was on the bench and will be hoping to push Savin for his number 1 position from now on.
After driving forward and fainting a couple of times Newby managed to lay the ball off to the advancing Oliver Rathbone.
His shot stung the palms of Savin, who could only manage to push his save out into the box once more. Luckily, the pressure was cleared by the Stanley defenders.
Before the half team talks there was enough time for Pritchard to try his luck from range, but his effort came to nothing and the sides went in level.
The second half was to produce more chances and excitement than we had seen in the opening period.
Jonny Russell was showing fans why he’s been on the management’s radar for a long time, after celebrating his birthday on Friday he showed no sign of any possible hangover and robbed Rathbone of the ball in his own half.
He galloped forward but unleashed a shot that wouldn’t have troubled any goalkeeper at any level.
John Coleman couldn’t blame Stanley fans being forgiven in thinking: “Here we go again” as one minute later, Rochdale went ahead.
After a punt forward into the front man the loose ball was gathered by Newby.
The midfielder bobbed and weaved away from Ross Sykes and sent a hopeful ball across the box, splitting the defenders and straight into the path of Jimmy Keohane to fire home from close range.
After going in front, Rochdale showed their defensive fragility moments later and the game was once again all square.
The Stanley coaching staff will be thrilled with the way the equaliser came about as it was a product of the positive new shape being piloted in these early stages of the season.
The three central defenders are being tasked with mixing close passes to the midfield with searching diagonal balls to the wingers.
In this instance, summer signing Cameron Burgess sent a beautifully weighted, looping diagonal pass behind the opposition defenders and into the feet of the advancing Joe Pritchard.
He was able to check back on his marker, a frantic Stephen Dooley, and looked to play a low cross towards the near post and into the path of a red shirt. Instead, the ball missed everyone and i nstead
made its way into the far corner to end any hope that Jay Lynch had of a clean sheet for the visitors.
It was to go from bad to worse in a very short period of time for Lynch, who made two appearances for Stanley in 2014, as two minutes later his defence was broken once more.
This time it was Mark Hughes to get the move going, playing the ball forward back into the path of Pritchard.
Buoyed by his goal, Pritchard was once again able to shake off his marker, this time the experienced Matty Lund, on the opposite wing.
Another short, low cross towards the edge of the six-yard box was lapped up by Jonny Russell and the Chelsea man was able to pop the ball across the goal mouth and out of the reach of any defender or
Lynch to give himself the perfect full debut in a red shirt.
The long passes where now causing real problems for the visiting back four, and the tactic almost gave Stanley breathing space when debutant Michael Nottingham, who joined on a three-year deal from Blackpool last week sent the ball forward again.
Dale skipper, Eoghan O’Connell, only managed a feeble headed clearance into the path of man of the moment: Pritchard. Stanley’s Number 10 was now toying with the opposition and playing with real confidence.
He lined a up a longrange shot, encouraging Lund to try and strike a tackle, but the winger moved passed him with ease. He then shot well, only to see his effort beat the keeper…but post as well, making it’s way out for a goal kick.
The last five minutes were reminiscent of a certain battle that took place between a small number of US soldiers and a large proportion of the Mexican army, Rochdale threw everything at the Stanley back line but their efforts came to nothing and the referee ended the game to give Stanley a well fought victory.
The win also meant it was the first time an Accrington side have beaten Rochdale at home for almost 60 years.
After the game Coleman praised his current side’s efforts against his ole employers: “We had to dig deep to see it out because they came out strong and they’re a good side with big game players.”
Back to back wins move Stanley up to sixth in the League 1 table before this weekend’s trip to early league leaders: Ipswich Town. The Tractor Boys, boasting a host of Stanley alumni (including record sale Kayden Jackson) are unbeaten so far this campaign, dropping only two points along the way.