Bogey men strike again

Stanley 1 Gravesend 1

GRAVESEND continue to be Stanley’s bogey team as the two sides chalked up their fourth draw in five meetings.

The other match was won by Fleet as the Reds struggle to get one over on Liam Daish's side.

It seemed like promotion-chasing Stanley were finally going to break the hoodoo following Ian Craney’s 20 yard wonder goal on 16 minutes.

But the introduction of Charlton sub Onome Sodje – who is on a season long loan from the Premiership side – changed the game as he caused havoc among the Stanley backline and scored the equaliser.

"We didn't play well but I still thought we did enough to win the game," said manager John Coleman. "We just didn't have the spark and we didn;t get the rub of the green with decisions. They just seem to have a curse over us.

"Ian Craney scored a great goal but he had two other opportunties where he got himself into good positions and snatched at a shot rather than passed. Then Darren (Randolph) has held his hand up for the goal - he shouldn't have come out."

The Reds stormed ahead thanks to a solo effort from Craney who won the ball in the centre circle, powered forward and cracked a shot low into the bottom corner of the net from 20 yards out.

And this spurred the home side into life with David Brown having a shot blocked, Roberts appealing for a spot kick and right winger Steve Jagielka playing in some testing crosses.

Sodje was then introduced on 23 minutes and towards the end of the half he started to have an impact as Fleet found their feet.

Justin Skinner fired a free kick just over, Sodje’s powerful shot was inches off-target, Lee Protheroe’s free kick was wide and, with the last move of the half, Randolph had to push away a fierce goalbound effort from Sodje.

And they continued their charge after the break with Sodje giving the Stanley defence a torrid time with Daniel Slatter and Jay Saunders having a go on goal. It looked like the home side had weathered the storm as they slowly started to push forward despite the loss of skipper Peter Cavanagh to 
an ankle injury.

Benin international Rommy Boco came on and he headed just wide while Craig Holloway pushed a Roberts header out. But then came the equaliser when an Anthony Barry free kick was charged down by Saunders. He sent Sodje through and, with his Charlton team-mate Randolph running out of goal, the striker turned Robbie Williams and finished superbly, chipping the ball into the empty net from 18 yards out.

And they could have had a second a minute later when Sodje set up Ben Surey but he fired wide with the goal at his mercy. There were half chances as Stanley forced a flurry of corners but the Fleet backline were equal to it although Coleman was fuming when both sub Andy Mangan and Mullin were pulled up for off-side in separate attacks as he felt the assistant had got it wrong.

Mullin did touch another effort into Holloway’s arms while, at the other end, Sodje set up Saunders but he skied the ball and it fell kindly into Randolphs’ arms. Stanley striker Mullin could have ended the Gravesend curse in injury time when he burst through but his low shot from the right was desperately cleared by Smith and the two sides once again shared the spoils.