Filed under: League Two, Football, Match Reports
Stevenage have one foot in the play-off final with the prosepct of a second-straight promotion still on the cards after Stacy Long and Joel Byrom's first-half goals.The home side made light of Accrington's 13-match unbeaten run prior to this game, as they dominated for much of the first leg.
Long went close for Stevenage against a physical Accrington side on eight minutes, but his effort from outside the box just failed to curl enough to be on target. He was more successful in the 24th minute when he chested down a throw-in then fired goalward - his shot taking as deflection to beat Alex Cisak.
The visitors' first chance did not come until the 33rd minute when Jimmy Ryan's volley was kept out by a desperate save from Chris Day, after his defenders had failed to clear.
Ten minutes before the break Stevenage's Darius Charles could have made a name for himself with his 20-yard effort which went beyond the reach of Cisak, but his spectacular shot hit the crossbar.
A minute before half time the sustained pressure took its toll for Accrington, as Joel Byrom pounced on Charles' knockdown for Stevenage's second.
Stevenage continued to press and had a huge let-off on 64 minutes when Sean McConville took a poor backpass from Scott Laird, rounded Day then fired into the side netting with the goal at his mercy.
WHAT IT MEANS: Stevenage head to Accrington full of confidence, but Stanley's home record is formidable. This tie looks to be heading one way, but Stanley cannot be ruled out.
REACTION:
Stevenage manager Graham Westley remains philosophical about the second leg:
"It could have been more but it also could have been less. We know it is a hostile environment up there and it is a difficult place to go.
"We have to prepare every little thing for us to go on to the final. Then we can think about that and afterwards maybe we can see what back-to-back promotions feels like."
Accrington manager John Coleman was relieved to be only two down heading to the second leg:
"I've no complaints. They probably have more cause to complain that it wasn't more. Should have been out of sight. They were comfortably the better side."
Stevenage's celebrations also gave him hope:
"They've shown enough wobbles to tell me the tie is not dead. I'd like to think that they think the tie is over. The way they celebrated after the game I think they thought it was over. I hope they do.
"There's no way we can play that badly again. I told my players at half-time if we can keep a clean sheet in the second half we are going to Old Trafford."
STEVENAGE 2 (Long 24, Byrom 44) ACCRINGTON STANLEY 0
PLAYER MARKING:
Stevenage (4-3-3): Day 7; Henry 7, Roberts 8, Ashton 8, Laird 6; Long 8 (Beardsley 75), Bostwick 7, Byrom 7; Charles 9 (Murphy 83), Reid 7 (Harrison 75), Wilson 7
Subs (not used): Welch, Margason, Winn, Maamria
Accrington Stanley (4-4-2): Cisak 6; Winard 6, Edwards 6, Hessey 5, Jacobson 5; Ryan 7, Joyce 5, Procter 7, McConville 6; Gornell 5, Craney 4 (Putterill 80)
Subs (not used): Dunbavin, Long, Barnett, Lindfield, Richardson, Murphy
REFEREE: R East
ATTENDANCE: 4424
NEXT UP:
- Accrington Stanley v Stevenage, Play off semi final second leg. Kick off 1945 BST.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Darius Charles (Stevenage). A handful in attack and ingenious when he dropped back. He laid on the second goal and was unlucky not to score a spectacular one himself.
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