Cup joy on duo’s
EMIRATES FA CUP SECOND ROUND SHELDAN KEAY
ACCRINGTON Stanley set up an FA Cup third round clash with Ipswich Town after picking up a win at home to Cheltenham Town on Saturday.
Second half goals from Offrande Zanzala, Billy Kee and Jordan Clark was enough to earn the Reds the victory in the second round of the competition.
Stanley manager John Coleman was delighted to come out on top at the Wham Stadium, and he thought it the result was more than deserving.
“I thought some of the football we played at times was excellent. I think it was an overall decent display and entertaining for the fans,” he said.
“The atmosphere seemed a bit flat and our fans did the best to lift us, but we had to lift them too. We showed flashes of brilliance in the first half where we created three or four good chances but we didn’t take them.
“We scored two goals and then we were disappointed with the goal we conceded, but we had the gumption to go on and push on and score again and make chances.
“It’s very rare that you see an Accrington side found wanting for effort, determination or passion. They may run of out steam or run out of legs, but they give it their all and the lads have been great.
“They’ve responded well over the past week about what we’ve tried to put across to them, and I think you saw that in the way we played.”
Coleman also praised several of his players, most notably Offrande Zanzala, who performed well as a substitute after initially having to settle for a place on the bench.
“With Connor Hall and Luke Charman out, we only had Andy Scott as an extra option, and he’s still 18 and learning his trade, so we didn’t have a lot of back up to change the game if we had started with Zanzala,” said Coleman.
“His performance vindicated the decision to do that, as he was lively when he came on and he got his goal from a well worked corner. He then utilised his pace for the penalty that Billy Kee scored.
“I was feeling it for Billy a bit when he was walking up to take the penalty but he’s buried it. His overall play was good and he’s won his headers. He’s been struggling with an injury and it was touch and go if he would play, but he battled through for the cause.
“Billy is a great lad and there’s nobody more pleased than me that he’s got his goal. Dan Barlaser was exceptional again as well, and when he breaks through the lines he’s a breath of fresh air.”
It was a quiet first half in the game, with Accrington unable to make the breakthrough despite creating a couple of chances. The Cheltenham defence was able to hold firm up until the interval, meaning it was 0-0 at half-time.
It was during the break where Zanzala made his introduction in place of Seamus Conneely, and it didn’t take the forward long to make an impact.
Just four minutes after coming on, he was able to head home a cross from Sean McConville to make it 1-0 and register his sixth goal of the campaign.
Zanzala was proving to be a constant threat after coming on, and he was involved again just after the hour mark when he won his side a penalty. His dangerous run into the box resulted in him being brought down by Jordon Forster, with Kee on hand to convert the spot kick to double the lead.
A few Accrington nerves began to emerge when Alex Addai pulled one back for Cheltenham, but a few minutes later Clark put the game beyond doubt when he scored the third to make the final score 3-1.
It was a happy ending for Coleman and assistant Jimmy Bell, who were celebrating their 1,000th match together as a management team.