Coleman happy to wait for glory
Accrington promotion party delayed
THEY have waited 50 years for third-tier football so another few days or so will not be too much of an inconvenience for Accrington Stanley, even though supporters had arrived here expecting a party.
In the end, the extra stewards drafted in anticipating a full-time pitch invasion remained underemployed after this draw with Exeter, the only team outside the top three automatic berths who can still catch them.
Given that John Coleman’s Stanley had won the last nine at home, plans for a post-match celebration were firmly in place. There was even talk of a delivery of McDonald’s to the Stanley dressing room after owner Andy Holt caused controversy last month by revealing he treats his players to a fast- food feast following away-day victories. Stanley needed to win to guarantee their ascent into League One for t he f i rst t i me si nce t he club reformed in 1968 and now they must wait until Tuesday’s visit of Yeovil Town. Again, a victory means promotion.
Coleman said: ‘I can’t fault their effort and we’ll go again on Tuesday.
‘We have to get used to that expectation.
‘I’m not disappointed we h a v e n ’ t b e e n promoted, I’m more d i s a p p o i n t e d we didn’t win. I l i ke winning. So yes, I feel a bit deflated.’
Feeding off the anticipation and enthusiasm in the stands, Stanley went on the offensive from kick-off. Twice they were denied an early opener by bl ocks i nsi de t he goalmouth, midf i e l d e r S c o t t Brown a n d captain Seamus Conneely taking aim from the edge of the area. So it was not in keeping with the script when Exeter broke and took the lead on 21 minutes. Former Stanley l oanee Jayden Stockley was the scorer — lifting the ball into the top corner from close range after keeper Aar o n Chapman had kept out Matt Jay’s blast. The hush which had descended on The Wham Stadium would have been a stunned silence had Chapman not kept out Jay’s dipping volley moments later, somehow clawing it away from the top corner.
But the hosts took heart from that escape and they were level on 38 minutes when Kayden Jackson wriggled free of the attentions of two defenders before steering home from 14 yards.
Exeter, though, were in no mood to play the role of compliant guests and it was they who sought the lead after half- time. Chapman again kept alive those promotion hopes by producing brilliant one-handed saves from first Stockley and then Hiram Boateng, who had volleyed towards the bottom corner from 20 yards.
Stanley then regained control and pressed for t h a t p r o moti o n - clinching goal in the closing stages.
They thought they had it when defender Mark Hughes flashed a header on goal in injury time but his effort was smothered by goalkeeper Christy Pym.
Exeter again broke and could have ni cked t he win af t er a desperate scramble inside the home penalty area.
Stanley survived and the point takes them one closer to making history. And t hat i s why t he champagne remains on ice in the changing room.