Reds bounce back with victory

STANLEY 2
YORK CITY 1

ACCRINGTON STANLEY ended a bad week on a high after leapfrogging York  and moving up to third in the Conference table.

The promotion hopefuls were knocked out of the FA Cup by Conference  North side Worcester in a replay on Monday and boss John Coleman 
demanded his players bounce back in style.

And overtaking fellow play-off chasers City was just what Stanley needed to retrieve some pride.

"It was a hard game," said Coleman. "The wind made it difficult and we had to dig in but it would have been a traversty if we hadn't won. 
We have a break now of two weeks so it is nice to have it with three points in the bag."

It wasn’t the best of first halves with chances at a premium in a scrappy game which was stop-start with six players being booked.

The first shot on target for either side didn’t come until the 15 minute when Ian Craney fired at Chris Porter.

Meanwhile, at the other end, Bishop got the better of Richardson but his cross-cum-shot was easily collected by Darren Randolph.

Goalmouth action was severely limited as the wind made it hard for both sides but the game needed a goal and that came on the stroke of  half-time.

David Brown sent through Paul Mullin on the right and his cross found Steve Jagielka in the box. Jagielka’s shot was well saved by Porter but he could only push the ball into the path of Gary Roberts who made it three goals in three games.

Stanley’s lead meant the game suddenly sprung to life in the second half with Roberts, who hadn’t featured much in the first 45 minutes, at the centre of most Stanley moves as his pace and trickery caused chaos in the York defence.

But York got their equaliser on 62nd minute when an inswinging free kick from Darren Dunning found Bishop at the far post and he looped the ball into the top of the net. He was then booked for celebrating with the York fans as several of them invaded the pitch.

York’s celebrations, though, were shortlived when Craney broke and  sent Roberts through in the area. It looked like he had wasted the chance when he opted to square it rather than go for goal but, after it missed Brown, Mullin rushed in at the far post to bobble the ball over the line. It wasn’t the cleanest of finishes but was just what the striker needed after a lean spell this season.

The Reds then kept pressing with renewed confidence and should have got a third.

Craney ran onto a great through ball six minutes from time and teed his shot up but Porter did well to deny him;  Jagielka tried a cheeky chip from 30 yards but Porter tipped it over and then subsitite Andy Mangan did superbly well to race to the by-line. He set up Jagielka but, with the goal gaping, the midfielder skied the effort.