Doolan’s delight with first victory

ACCRINGTON Stanley interim manager John Doolan was delighted to get off the mark with a first win since taking charge of the club.

Alex Henderson’s late strike handed the Reds a 2-1 win at Swindon’s County Ground, ending a run of four successive losses and Doolan said: “I’m buzzing for Alex Henderson because his goal was just brilliant.

“He’s Clayton End! He had a Stanley season ticket as a boy and I know he what had in his locker but to actually score a goal like that is magical.

“He got into the pocket, he’s had a touch and I could see him having a look and I thought ‘Is he going to hit it?’And boy did he hit it! It was unbelievable.

“We had a horrendous journey down here because of problems on the M6. It was like a camel ride using the A-roads but I told they lads not to use it as an excuse.

“I celebrated with the lads at the end because it was emotional finally getting over the line to get my first win.

“We had to absorb a lot of their pressure early on but we got to grips with their shape. They have some really good, experienced players, but the way the lads dug in was great.

“It was the worst possible start to the second half, conceding from a set-piece. So we had a bit of a setback but then we’ve come on strong.”

It’s back to the Wham Stadium on Saturday for the visit of Notts County and Doolan said: “It will be more positive and rightly so. John and Jimmy have done brilliantly for this club so I don’t have to stand here and say what they’ve done. If we can now back it up and go to the Wham and have the fans behind us, look where it takes us.

“A few hundred turned up on a cold Tuesday night and the lads have repaid them on the pitch.”