THE magic of the FA Cup was well and truly weaving its way around the FES just 30 minutes into Stanley’s first round encounter with Huddersfield.
Peter Cavanagh and Paul Mullin had the Stanley fans coming out with their full repertoire of songs as it seemed like a cup shock was on the cards.
One hour later, it was the despair of the Cup as Stanley threw away a two-goal lead to see any dreams of Premiership opponents disappear for another year.
It was rough justice on the Reds although League One opponents Huddersfield will feel that it was just desserts after what happened to them in 2003.
Then sub Andy Gouck’s late late winner embarrassed Town as the non league Reds knocked them out live on BBC1 in front of millions of viewers.
Those watching on Saturday weren’t quite in the same number but no one could deny the passion felt by both sets of fans in a lively encounter.
And this time it was the visiting fans who were hailing a last gasp sub as Luke Beckett’s late goal meant that Stanley fell at the first hurdle for the fourth year running.
It was unthinkable this would happen half an hour in as Stanley were bossing their higher league opponents and there was optimism that this year they could replicate the run of four years ago into the third round which generated the income to turn the Reds into a professional outfit.
But at the end, it was a case of what might have been as Huddersfield bombarded the Reds’ goal and did what Leigh RMI, Worcester City and Mansfield had done and made sure that it was back to concentrating on the league for Stanley.
Manager John Coleman was visibly shocked after the game as his hopes, dreams and thoughts that he could get his side back into the national spotlight disappeared in a crazy hour - or at least a mad last eight minutes when Huddersfield scored their equaliser and the winner.
“Huddersfield know they got out the jail,” said Coleman.“I am really disappointed.
“It is a horrible feeling to lose a two goal lead and is really frustrating. I have a feeling this will take a long time to get out of my system.
“We just cannot seem to get past the first hurdle.”
Once more Sunday’s second round draw came and went with only a passing interest for Stanley fans and Coleman admitted that was agony.
“It is like being a kid pressed up against the window of a sweet shop and it is hard to take,” he said.
And it was especially hard to take as defensive frailties again let his side down.
Terriers Malvin Kamara, who scored twice, and Beckett finished well but they got the ball via errors which were to cost Stanley so dear.
Saying that, Huddersfield boss Andy Ritchie felt his own side’s defence was found wanting in the first half as Cavanagh scored from a free kick on 12 minutes and dangerman Roscoe Dsane took advantage of a defensive slip to square for Mullin to score a simple goal.
“We gifted them both their goals - we pressed the self destruct button twice,” said the ex-Oldham striker.
“In the second half we penned them in and have shown grit and determination and I think we deserved it with our pressure in the second half.”
Coleman had to rearrange his side with loan star Ian Craney not allowed to play by his club Swansea City.
David Brown came into midfield while Leam Richardson returned after a knee injury for Graham Branch.
And they could have had the ball in the back of the net with just seconds on the clock when a Mullin flick on almost fooled keeper Matt Glennon but he managed to tip the ball over.
Then came the opener when Brown was fouled by Andy Holdsworth on the edge of the area and captain Cavanagh didn’t have to argue with missing Craney about who would take it.
Instead he whipped it in from 20 yards and it tucked into the stanchion - although he did run to the stands to celebrate with the midfielder.
And the second wasn’t long after when Dsane’s pace once more troubled the Terriers defence and he unselfishly squared for Mullin to walk the ball into the net for his eighth goal of the season.
The higher league club had created little but a sign of their danger was to come when highly-rated winger Kamara forced a save out of keeper Ian Dunbavin seven minutes before the half-time whistle.
And the Sierra Leone international then made his presence felt in injury-time. He got the ball, evaded a tackle from defender Mark Roberts and raced into the area to fire into the bottom corner of the net much to the frustration of Coleman.
“That killed us,” said the Stanley boss. “If we had gone in 2-0 up, I think we would have gone on and won it.”
Ritchie gave his team a “volley” at half-time but it might have proved fruitless if Stanley had put away the next chance four minutes after the re-start.
Then Dsane beat the off-side trap and charged forward but somehow the finger-tips of Glennon managed to force the ball just wide while Jay Harris shot from distance minutes later but it was off target.
However, with the wind advantage Town made sure it was largely backs to the walls for the Reds, especially when they put Beckett on and went three - or even four - up front for the final 15 minutes.
Stanley had held firm under pressure at Morecambe on Tuesday night, though, and the home fans were praying for a repeat performance. And they got it - but for the final eight minutes.
Beckett almost had an immediate impact but Dunbavin pulled off a superb one-handed save to keep out the former Stockport striker on 78 minutes.
The visitors forced a series of corners, cheered on by their home fans behind Dunbavin’s goal, but the Reds managed to clear then lines.
However then Nathan Clarke - who played at Accrington in 2003 - got a measure of revenge when his long throw was not cleared properly by Robbie Williams.
It fell to the boot of hot-shot Kamara who belted the ball home for the equaliser on 82 minutes.
A replay at the Galpharm Stadium looked likely and the Reds would have taken it at that stage.
Dunbavin somehow kept out a Frank Sinclair close range effort with his hand as the Terriers hunted for the winner.
And then it came. With one minute left, Stanley were attacking, lost the ball and it found its way to Holdsworth on the edge of the area.
He sent Beckett through and his shot hit the far post and rolled into the net to break the Reds’ hearts.
There was still time for Stanley to get back in it and Andy Procter leapt the highest but couldn’t steer the ball into the net while Kamara fired wide as he looked for his hat-trick.
The Reds fans’ were still singing but Coleman was fuming.
“It doesnt bode well if you concede three goals at home,” said the Reds boss with Stanley also knocked out of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy earlier in the season by Oldham after leading 2-0.
“We played some smashing football and we could have scored more but we lost it and it is hard to bear.”
