Reds break run
SKY BET LEAGUE ONE PLYMOUTH ARGYLE...... 0 STANLEY........................... 3 SHELDAN KEAY
ACCRINGTON Stanley ended a run of four straight defeats after a dominant victory away from home against Plymouth Argyle.
Goals from Sam Finley, Sean McConville and Jordan Clark helped the Reds pick up all three points at Home Park to secure their first victory in seven games.
The win saw Stanley move up to 10th position ahead of their game against Shrewsbury on Boxing Day, and manager John Coleman was pleased with the performance.
“They were three well worked goals. Sam Finley hadn’t scored a league goal yet. He has had great opportunities but the ball just wouldn’t go in for him. He kept his composure and got his goal on Saturday with a really good header,” he said.
“We were thinking it wasn’t going to happen for Sean McConville, but he is a clever player and is always capable of getting a shot off. I know he has the most shots in League One from any player and he also has the most shots on target from any player.
“You know what you are getting off Sean, that is his eighth goal of the season now and he will be targeting, certainly double figures and into the high teens.
“Jordan Clark then scored and you know what you are getting off Jordan. He works his socks off and they all work themselves into the ground.
“You see Callum Johnson go down with cramp late on and he is probably the fittest player in our squad. So for him to be going down with cramp, it tells you how much of a shift he has put in and how much of a shift every- one else has put in.
“Billy Kee didn’t get on the scoresheet but he was immense. he led the line and has actually ended up with two-and-a-half assist.
“He has been focused all week and has shown a determination to get us back. He knows how essential he is to the way we play and I think he felt that he had been letting us down a little bit although I thought he was our best player last week as well.
“On Saturday he was absolutely immense and he shows why he is, probably in the lower leagues, one of the best centre-forwards I know.”
Accrington played well in the first half of the match with Plymouth, but they were unable to find the net despite creating some chances. McConville had one of them, with his powerful shot striking the crossbar before bouncing to safety.
The Stanley defence also had to be firm at the other end, keeping out Plymouth attempts from the likes of Freddie Ladapo and Graham Carey to ensure that it remained goalless at the break.
The Reds were quick out of the blocks in the second half, and their hard work was rewarded when they got the opener just after the hour mark. A cross from Clark was met by Billy Kee, who flicked the ball into the path of Finley who headed home to make it 1-0 on 61 minutes.
It didn’t take long for Stanley to double their lead, as just four minutes later they were able to double their lead. It was a superb solo effort from McConville, who cut in from the left before firing the ball into the far corner to make it 2-0.
Stanley continued to dominate and could have had a third when Kee fired wide on 72 minutes, but they eventually netted again when Clark scored with 13 minutes to go to put the finishing touches on the victory and earn Accrington a dominant 3-0 win.