Coleman swoops to end goalkeeper crisis

JOHN Coleman has made a hasty addition after another week of  goalkeeper nightmares.

At the end of last week, following the retirement of Stuart Jones and Danny Alcock's broken arm, Coleman brought in two keepers.

French goalie Bertrand Bossu, who came on loan from Darlington, played in Stanley's first loss of the season last saturday - 3-1 at  Cambridge - but dropped a clanger and was recalled to the league club earlier this week.

And Ex-Liverpool keeper Paul Harrison was also signed up - but it looks like he has left the club after sitting on the bench for the Cambridge game.

It has left Coleman with just 16-year-old local lad and youth keeper Martin Fearon so the Reds chief has moved swiftly to bring in Craig Gallagher, a young goalie who came through the Academy at Everton.

"It has been like deja vu from last week," said the Reds chief. "It  is a nightmare."

It means Gallagher will go straight into the squad to face league leaders Exeter on Saturday, who are the only unbeaten side in the Conference.

"They are a good side but they have said they haven't been playing well," said Coleman. " But neither have we and we know we have got to  improve and will improve. The new players need time to gel together but it will happen."

Exeter boss Alex Inglethorpe said: "This is our biggest game of the season so far and it will be a tough competitive match."

Coleman has a full strength side to choose from and defender Mike Flynn might return to the first team after sitting on the bench for the Cambridge loss.

And then on Bank Holiday Monday, Stanley travel to bottom club Scarborough, a bogey place for them after two losses in the last two seasons.

"We haven't performed that badly there but the results have just not gone our way," added Coleman.

Captain Peter Cavanagh admitted: "It hasn't been a happy hunting ground for us so the lads will have a point to prove there."

Meanwhile, Coleman revealed he has made an enquiry about Southport's prolific hitman Terry Fearns. The striker, who scored 41 goals last season for the promoted Sandgrounders, is said to be tempted by a move to a full-time club but manager Liam Watson is hoping to hold on to Fearns.