FA Trophy

WHILE the Accrington Stanley fans who made the long midweek trip to Exeter last week will remember the game with pride, their 200 mile round trip to Worksop on Tuesday will be instantly forgettable.

A bunch of around 40 fans got in their cars this week after the FA Trophy last 16 match was hastily rearranged following the 1-1 draw on Saturday.

But, as well as the cold, windy and wet conditions, they were treated to a similar dreary Stanley show as they failed to see off the Conference North side.

Worksop lie 36 places behind the Reds but they deserved to win for their dogged show against the Conference leaders over the two games as the Tigers left the Reds licking their wounds.

It did need a penalty shoot-out to seperate the sides but Ian Craney and Danny Ventre had their efforts saved by former Morecambe keeper Adam Sollitt to hand the initiative to the Nottingham side in the do-or-die finale.

Reds keeper Rob Elliot managed to keep out ex-Stanley triallist Blake Norton's spot kick but the other Worksop players converted to clinch a last eight home tie against Southern League East Division table toppers Boreham Wood.

Manager John Coleman's dreams of emulating Martin O'Neill's Wycombe side of 1993, who won the Conference title and FA Trophy double, quickly evaporated on the muddy Worksop turf and now it is full steam ahead for the main prize - the Conference crown and a Football League return.

Not that that will console Coleman at this moment as he was desperate to win the prestigious non league trophy and will be disappointed with the show his side put on at Worksop.

While defensively they kept things tight, they never really got going up front and, apart from Craney's goal two minutes after Worksop had rocked them by taking the lead, the Reds didn't have a clear cut chance.

Coleman did change the side from Saturday's below par show at home in a bid to find the winning formula.

Ventre came into the right back slot, Phil Edwards moved to left, Andy Tretton started as centre half while Robbie Williams moved into midfield.

Rommy Boco started up front after his midfield show on Saturday while striker Andy Mangan dropped to the bench.

Barnsley legend Ronnie Glavin stuck with the same side who had done so well to smother the Reds in the first match with Norton and ex-Doncaster frontman Ben Saunders once again providing the main threat.

But it was a dour first half with the first chance coming from Stanley's Andy Todd who fired straight at Sollitt. The best opportunity, however, belonged to Worksop after Edwards brought down tricky winger Richard Carrington just outside the area on 21 minutes.

Carrington dusted himself down to take the free kick and it was heading for the back of the net with only the acrobatics of keeper Elliott - who pulled off some stunning saves in both matches - keeping him out.

The swirling rain and wind continued to make it tricky for both sides with just one more chance each before half-time.

The first belonged to Worksop but a timely tackle by Tretton stopped Saunders racing free.

Then, a mistake by striker-cum-defender Tony Crane let in both Boco and Paul Mullin.

Boco raced to the ball and charged into the area but the Worksop defence did well to track back and block his on-target effort.

It had to get better after the break - but only marginally so.

Stanley had a few half chances with the unusually quiet Gary Roberts having a deflected shot straight at Sollitt while Craney fired wide as he raced into the area.

The Reds just seemed to lack inventiveness with Roberts and Todd struggling on either wing on the slippy surface and Mullin and Boco, while trying and toiling, hardly having a sniff.

At the other end, Worksop did play a couple of good balls into the box but they were lacking the end product.

Coleman introduced Saturday's hero David Brown on the hour and he did liven things up, as his curling shot flew narrowly wide of the near post.

It needed something to spark the game into life and it came on 76 minutes.Carrington broke on the right wing and was able to play in a dangerous cross with Norton getting ahead of Ventre to slide the ball home.

He was harshly booked for his celebrations but the home side could have been cheering again a minute later but Elliot pulled off a save out of nowhereto deny captain Paul Dempsey whose 10 yard strike looked destined for the back of the net.

But the Tigers were made to pay when, on 78 minutes, it was honours even again.

A ball forward caused chaos on the edge of the area and it fell to Craney who, with Sollitt coming for the ball, managed to poke the ball beyond him and into the net. The Worksop players were furious as they felt Roberts had handled the ball in the build up.

It was hoped this was the start of the Stanley revival and the visitors could have scored a controversial goal in injury time - as they did in the last round at Carlshalton.

The Reds were given a free kick in the area for a disputed back pass. However, Roberts, Craney and Brown all fluffed the opportunity with set-pieces not coming off all night for the Reds and the game moved into extra-time - what fans, the managers and both sets of players could have done without.

The game was still played out in midfield with only two chances of note - one in each half. The first belonged to Saunders whose cross-cum-shot from the left wing hit the top of the crossbar as he tried to catch out Elliot.

Then, in the second period, Boco's strike from 20 yards was pushed out by Sollitt to lead to sudden death.

Worksop's Kevin Davies held his nerve to score the first penalty and then Craney couldn't believe it when his spot kick was saved by Sollitt.

Town sub Mark Wilson then made it advantage Worksop but David Brown scored a good spot-kick to make it 2-1.

Captain Dempsey played a skipper's role in firing home number three and then Ventre's was straight down the middle and easy for keeper Sollitt.

Norton could have been a big hero as his penalty would have won it but Elliot produced another wonder save to keep Stanley in it and then Boco converted to give the Reds a glimmer of hope.

It meant Crane, scorer of the penalty in the first game, had to convert to win and although he blasted it, it smashed into the back of the net and the Worksop celebrations began.

  • STANLEY put on a lack lustre show on Saturday in the first FA Trophy last 16 clash against Worksop at the Interlink.

Elliot had to put off a stunning save in the early minutes to deny Saunders before the ex-Doncaster striker was fouled by Michael Welch just after the break. Crane fired home the penalty.

Brown had only been on the pitch four minutes when he rounded keeper Sollitt and slotted the ball in the back of the net for a much-needed equaliser on 62 minutes.

And the striker was disappointed he had another "goal" ruled off-side - as did Mullin and Mangan - when it looked like he had timed his run well.

Brown was then furious when a last minute challenge by Dempsey was not judged a penalty but a booking for the Stanley man for diving.