Review of season part two

Summer was busy for Stanley. Prendergast joined Blackpool and  McEvilly left for Wrexham but Stanley signed highly rated defender 
Andy Tretton early on.

The pre-season saw various people come and go with Coleman taking his time on choosing players before settling for keeper Stuart Jones, ex-
Burnley winger Matt O'Neill, defender Michael Welch, Danny Ventre, Andy Mangan and Leam Richardson.

It was a good start for Stanley with a 1-0 win over Canvey although it wasn't such a convincing performance. Brown was the goal hero.

This followed up with a 1-0 lucky with over Altrincham with a Welch header the decider.

Then became a goalkeeper merry-go-round as Jones, who had been so dominating in both games, retired with an old ankle injury. Danny Alcock was prepared to step in until he suffered injury heartbreak when he broke his arm in a reserve game.

In came Darlington keeper Bertrand Bossu and ex-Liverpool keeper Paul Harrison but Bossu had a nightmare in his first game and Stanley, 3-0 
down at half-time, lost 3-1.

Bossu and Harrison went and in came Craig Gallagher, from Everton, but he was injured just before the game and so Coleman hastily arranged for a teenager Charlton goalie Darren Randolph to make his debut at home to Exeter. Stanley also snapped up 40-year-old veteran Andy Dibble

Stanley's lost 2-1 after Mullin missed a penalty but made up for it  by scoring a goal but Exeter kept their 100 per cent record at the top of the league.

It seemed the Staney of old had returned after they cruised into a 2-0 lead at Scarborough only for Boro to hit back and Stanley dropped down to 12th with Coleman fuming.

The lowest crowd of the season at home — 959 — then saw Accy beat Woking. Ian Craney and Mullin still claiming the same goal - but all the talk was of the signing of Benin international Rommy Boco.

Accy saw off Burton with Brown and Mangan on target while a 4-2 win over Crawley got some meaesure of revenge for last season and it was 
three wins on the trot.

Jagielka, Brown and Roberts saw off a struggling Aldershot side 3-2 before Dagenham continued to be a happy hunting ground for the Reds 
with a 2-1 win and Accy moved up to third place in the league.

There was agony at Christie Park when Stanley were on the end of a 3-2 defeat and they had to battle with ten men for most of the game following the third minute sending off of Chris Butler.

Ged Brannan, out of favour this season, left the club while Stanley drew 1-1 with bogey team Gravesend.

They then enjoyed a rousing 2-1 win over Hereford and the Reds surged up to joint top but dropped again when Stevenage, despite being down 
to ten men, celebrated a 3-1 win over the Reds.

Stanley lost on penalties in the LDV Vans Trophy at Rotherham and then came the low point of the season so far - the FA Cup.

The Reds would have expected to see of Conference North strugglers Worcester but a 1-1 draw on Saturday meant they had to make a hasty 
trip to Andy Preece's side on Monday.

It was all going so well with Welch and Roberts putting Stanley 2-0 up in 15 minutes. But Worcester's revival and an 88th minute goal led to Coleman keeping his players locked in the dressing room long after the final whistle.

However, a 2-1 win over York was followed by the sky televised win at Grays which stopped their 15 game unbeaten record and brought Roberts to the nation's attention with his tricks which led up to the first goal.

Mangan was hero and villain but he made the goal before he was given his marching orders - and all that was forgotten in the euphoria of  the win.

On a cold friday night, Stanley got rid of another Conference bogey team Forest gGreen to go top of the table - until Grays knocked them off the perch on Saturday.

Then Jamie Speare's return to the Interlink with new club Southport was not enjoyable for the keeper as his side lost 4-0 - but it was also good-bye to Randolph following his three month loan spell.

In came his team mate Rob Elliot and he kept a clean sheet for the 1-0 win over Altrincham thanks to a Gary Roberts wonder kick which kept the Reds at the top. Alty then drew with Grays to make sure Accy held onto that position and then it was a four point gap when they saw off Kidderminster and made it six hours of league football without conceding a goal.

An FA Trophy win over Altrincham kept manager John Coleman smiling - let's hope he still has that look on his face in May.