Reds make most Of early gift
SWINDON TOWN ............ 0 STANLEY........................... 3
FIRST half strikes from both Colby Bishop and Dion Charles put the icing on the cake for Accrington Stanley’s week, aided with a calamitous early own goal from Swindon’s goalkeeper Joe Fryer, the Reds came away 3-0 winners in Wiltshire.
It was Stanley’s second win in four days away from home in Sky Bet League One, the win kept them in 10th place with games still in hand on the teams in front.
The same starting 11 that won on Saturday took to the field on a wet night at The County Ground with Harvey Rodgers retaining his spot with Ross Sykes still out to injury.
Fans would have been forgiven to wonder if Stanley could put in another performance of the calibre seen at the weekend, but only had to wait six minutes before the team had their noses in front once more, albeit with a gift of spectacular proportions.
The hosts were playing the ball around their midfield line when it then made it’s way back to Akinwale Odimayo at centre back.
His touch was a little heavy and under slight pressure from Charles, Odimayo played it back to Fryer in the Swindon goal.
Attempting a first-time clearance, the keeper managed to miscue his kick completely and fell over in the process.
The ball popped over his foot and trailed into his own net, with Charles hot on it’s tail to try and snatch the easiest goal of his career.
Alas, he couldn’t catch up and the goal was an own goal.
After his shooting boots were missing at the weekend, who could blame him for wanting a freebie?
Stanley were let off immediately when Johnny Smith put an effort wide, but from that point, it was all action from the men in white.
Matt Butcher was the first to nearly double the lead when his free-kick from the corner of the 18 yard box went under the wall and caught Fryer scrambling to his left.
The keeper was saved double blushes as he ensured the ball went out for a corner kick.
Joe Pritchard looked like a player oozing with confidence, beating his man and fizzing the ball across a dangerous area, only to see no one get on the end of it.
As the game looked to follow a similar suit to Saturday’s win of potential chances going begging, Bishop made sure there would be no need for nerves in the fanbase.
Pritchard teed up Cameron Burgess to float a beautiful cross into the box. The ball missed everyone and was met by Butcher between the sixand 18-yard boxes. He shot straight into the ground which allowed the flight of the ball to go over a defender and allow Bishop to nod it on and nestle the ball into the back of the goal.
Swindon tried to get going and build a foothold in the match, but Stanley stood firm and put the game beyond doubt on 38 minutes.
It’s almost becoming habit to write the name of Joe Pritchard to signal the start of a goal, and it was him again picking up a pass from Burgess 40 yards out and with his back to goal.
With a call of “time” from his teammates, he was able to turn and shift his pace to have momentum moving him towards a flustered Town back line.
Bishop came to assist him, and they played a neat one-two around Odimayo, Pritchard was now 9 yards out to the left of the box with advancing Fryer coming towards him.
He expertly delayed his move, fainting a shot and setting up Charles across the six-yard box who made a late run and had a tap in from five yards. As
the referee signalled the end of the half, Stanley were in dreamland.
The manager was very impressed with the move: “The third goal is as good as you will see. If that’s Barcelona and Messi finishing that it’s getting shown on the telly 7 or 8 times a day. We know we can play that kind of football, we just have to start playing well for longer in games.”
After the break Swindon came out swinging and when Hallam Hope found himself unmarked on 51 minutes with just Toby Savin to beat, Robins fans may have sensed a possible fight for pride.
Hope fired wide in an effort that summarised his teams evening in front of goal.
With Town committing more bodies forward, Stanley found themselves with more openings to put the game beyond their hosts. Rodgers picked up a loose ball and passed well to Butcher on halfway. The Portsmouth born midfielder turned and galloped forward, making the most of tiring Swindon legs. He drew out the defender and released Russell, looking for his second goal in as many games, he failed to beat Fryer in what should have been a fourth.
There was still time for Brett Pittman to attempt to end Savin’s clean sheet run, but his shot fired well over from all of 10 yards.
The result means that Savin has enjoyed 3 league matches without conceding a goal.
The game ended after a quiter 45 minutes and Stanley had done their job and stamped out any sign of a potential come back, the damage was already done before half time. After the game, Coleman was excited at the thought of the year ahead coaching this side: “We’re still learning, teams still young. But, there’s a great appetite in the squad.”
This weekend John Coleman’s side face sturdier opposition. Lincoln City arrive at The Crown Ground in fifth place, fourpoints better off than Stanley but having played two more games. The Red’s will be hoping to make it three losses in a row for The Imps and hopefully close more of the gap between themselves and the play off spots at this early stage of the season.