A LONG TRIP down south wasn't quite what Accrington Stanley had in mind when they overcame Altrincham in the first round of the FA Trophy - but the Reds are just glad to be there.
For the last few years, Stanley have fallen at the first hurdle in non league's top competition and two narrow 1-0 wins over Altrincham in the league meant this one could have been tricky.
But, thanks to two early goals, Stanley always looked confident and now face a trip to Conference South bottom club Carshalton in the second round on January 14.
It means, in a six week spell, the Reds will travel to Canvey, Tamworth, Exeter, Aldershot and Gravesend in the league and Carshalton in the FA Trophy - a lot of time on the motorways for the hardy supporters.
But they won't mind if their side can see off the Surrey team in the FA Trophy as comfortably as they saw off Conference strugglers Alrincham.
There were a few scarey moments when Accrington looked like they would conceal their first goal in more than nine hours of football but Rob Elliot saved a penalty to make sure he kept his record of not conceding a Stanley goal.
At the other end, Steve Jagielka was a constant threat on the wing early on, Paul Mullin gave the defence a torrid time and Alty struggled to deal with Rommy Boco and Gary Roberts.
"Boco was wonderful," enthused boss John Coleman. "He was outstanding but there were some great performances out there. Welchy (Michael Welch) and Rocky (Robbie Williams) were outstanding at the back but I do not want to single anyone out as everyone played well. Gary (Roberts) got more on the ball in the second half and he is a handful for anyone."
The manager admitted he is revelling in the current run of clean sheets after being critical of a leaky defence earlier in the season.
"You could see how much it meant to Rob to keep a clean sheet by his reaction when he saved the penalty - and the rest of the team as well.
"That's what I have been saying, when you are seeing the game out in the last five minutes, have a bit of pride, don't concede and keep a clean sheet. Including the Lancashire Cup, that's six on the bounce and it is someway towards a record for us."
Ian Craney got the nod to return to the starting line-up against his old club following his one game suspension last week with David Brown dropping to the bench.
Alty have been notoriously slow starters in their last three games conceding goals on three minutes.
But they almost let one in with seconds on the clock when Roberts broke, found Mullin and he flicked on rather than shot and Boco just couldn't get there at the far post.
"It was a sitter for Paul," said Coleman. "And you do begin to think you could suffer for that but thankfully we bounced back and scored in the next attack."
This was when Ged Murphy lost the ball in Stanley's half, Mullin pounced and sent Jagielka rushing down the flank and he played in the perfect cross at the far post which Boco flicked over the line for his second goal of his Stanley career.
Then Craney threatened to upset his former club with a 25-yard free kick which Stuart Coburn did well to finger tip over.
There was one early moment of worry when a clearance from Robbie Williams fell to Warren Peyton and he, with Elliot rushing back to goal, tried to chip him but the Stanley keeper recovered well.
The referee David Foster did seem over fussy, booking Coburn after he made a mess of a Roberts shot and blasted the ball over the stand and tempers did threaten to overspill at times but Mr Foster did manage to keep control.
But it was Stanley who made sure they were really controlling the game when they scored an important second goal.
The lively Jagielka set up Craney and he slid in and finished from a tight angle to heap the misery on his former club on 34 minutes.
The Reds were still celebrating when, from the kick off, Leam Richardson was judged to have tripped Colin Little in the area.
The Stanley players looked shell-shocked as Little dusted himself down to take the spot kick but he hit it low and hard straight down the middle and Elliot saved with his feet - and celebrated like he had won the Trophy!
Craney then had another chance to see off his old mates with a curling strike which skimmed the outside of the post on the stroke of half-time.
Robins boss Graham Heathcote pushed three up front in the second half as his side had a go. And they did begin to trouble the Reds with Potts firing across the face of goal with just a touch needed and Peyton's fierce free kick was punched away by Elliot as they looked for a breakthrough.
Stanley did have to juggle their side on the hour when Jagielka was blocked by Steve Aspinall as he looked to make another surging run and the winger limped off with a knee injury with Peter Cavanagh taking over.
And, after Stanley had weathered the Alty spell, they could have added to their tally in the final 20 minutes. Boco headed a Craney corner inches wide while Mullin shot straight at Coburn.
Roberts got more into the game and piled on the pressure on the wing backs while Boco blasted another effort high and wide.
But Stanley were just happy to overcome a potential banana skin.
"We haven't won in the first round of the trophy for three years and we needed a lift and to generate some money for the club," said the Reds chief. "At times, we played some breathtaking and entertaining stuff with bright passing, good vision and imagination. The only pity was that we didn't add to our tally."
And, after appeals for more fans, Coleman said the figure of 810 was what he had expected.
"It was a cold day just before Christmas and the fact it was a cup game meant the season ticket holders don't always want to pay again. The chairman estimated 800 and he got 10 more so he will be happy."
Alty boss Heathcote was gutted: "We've got knocked out of the cups too easily this season and financially we have generated nothing. This will take its toll in the New Year squad-wise.
"We have played Accrington three times and not scored a goal. We tried to go for it with 4-3-3 and, in the end, 4-2-4 but we have made some bad decisions in the final third of the field and need to find some answers as to why we are not scoring away from home."
