Godden is golden as Coleman complains
ACCRINGTON boss John Coleman cut a frustrated figure after Stevenage striker Matt Godden’s second-half strike settled this rainsodden clash in Lancashire.
Back in May, Stevenage held on for a goalless draw at the Wham Stadium, a result which saw Stanley miss out on promotion.
And Darren Sarll’s side repeated the trick with a determined away performance.
“I thought that was pathetic last season and they should have come here and tried to win,” said Coleman, whose side have now won one game in eight.
“This was a different matter and they’ve got to be congratulated for the win.
“It’s like groundhog day for us at the moment and we’ve got to snap out of it but the pitch has killed us really because we were like Tasmanian devils and were all over them in the first half.
“I personally don’t think the game should have gone ahead because of the way the ball was stopping and it became a farce at times but we did make enough chances to win the game.”
Stanley dominated the first half and to their credit continued to persist with their attractive passing game despite the increasingly dreadful conditions which left one corner a virtual swamp.
Jordan Clark was the first to test Jamie Jones when his curling shot was beaten away with an unconventional yet effective punch by the visiting keeper.
The returning Shay McCartan, who had been forced off with breathing difficulties during the FA Cup victory over Bradford, was next to force the keeper into action when he waded his way into area before Jones pulled off a fine point-blank save.
Both sides continued to struggle with the conditions after the break but Stevenage improved and the winner came in the 71st minute when Elliot Parrish failed to come for a long ball over the top and Godden sneaked in to place a low shot past the hesitant keeper. “I’m very proud of the players,” added Stevenage manager Sarll.
“At half-time I reminded them how we play and what we work on all day, every day and the second half was what a Darren Sarll side is: determined, on the front foot and lots of energy.
“The goal we actually scored was probably the worst of the chances we created but I always say the harder you work, the luckier you get and the goal typified Matty who is a proper centre forward and led our line brilliantly.”