IN THE HISTORY BOOKS: Stanley 1-0 United - 17th March 2007

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Louis
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IN THE HISTORY BOOKS: Stanley 1-0 United - 17th March 2007

Post by Louis »

It was a game that has a few similarities to tomorrow's fixture. Torquay United travelled up to Accrington for a match that had rarely featured in the history books. Prior to this trip, the last meeting in Lancashire was way back in 1930, so this was a tad unusual. Stanley had just come back into the Football League after several years out. The first meeting between the sides was at Plainmoor, and it was the first game under a new era for United. Mike Bateson had sold the club to Chris Roberts. The sense of optimism around Plainmoor was hit slightly though, as Accrington went home with the points after a 2-0 win, courtesy of goals from Michael Welch and Gary Roberts. 5 months on, and both teams were struggling at the foot of the table. The game, in mid-March was huge. Torquay needed a win really to try and push out of the bottom 2 and stop the slide, while a win for their hosts would have opened a bit of a gap. Stanley offered free entry all around the ground to try and get the numbers in, and it worked, as just over 4000 fans turned out for the occasion, including around 600 Gulls.

NEED A WIN: United know they need to stop the rot tomorrow.NEED A WIN: United know they need to stop the rot tomorrow.
The United line up was as follows; Simon Rayner, Lee Andrews, Chris Robertson, Dean Gordon, Mark Robinson, Lee Mansell, Matt Hockley, Lloyd Kerry, Steven Cooke, Lee Thorpe, Marvin Williams. Subs: Martin Horsell, Stev Angus, Chris McPhee, Ali John, Kevin Hill.

Stood on that open terrace in the pouring, non-stop rain for just over two hours, you'd like to think that the players would play their hearts out for the supporters who had made the long journey up from South Devon. However, it wasn't like that. A dull opening 45 minutes passed without much incident, but it started going wrong in the second half. Accrington, under John Coleman, started pressing more and more, and the first major incident of note came in the 55th minute. Stanley caught us out with a quickly-executed counter attack, which resulted in an attacker running through on goal. Mansell tried getting back, but could only resort in taking the forward down. It was a last man, rash tackle, so out came the red card. Nightmare. Stanley failed to make anything of the resulting set play, and as the clock ticked on, we looked like we might take a point. Then, disaster. The clock moved into 3 minutes of injury time, and in that final minute, Accrington won another free kick, right on the edge of the box. Captain Paul Cavanagh shadowed over the ball, considering his options. He drilled it low, under the wall, past Simon Rayner and into the bottom corner. A chorus of heartbreaking groans on the terrace all around me as we had a point taken from us at the last. There was no time for any chance of a last-ditch leveller, the referee soon blew for the final time.

BILLY MAKES IT 3: Bodin scores United's 3rd in the earlier game at Plainmoor.BILLY MAKES IT 3: Bodin scores United's 3rd in the earlier game at Plainmoor.
It was this game that, for me, confirmed our drop into non-league. That was confirmed 3 weeks or so later, in a draw at home to Peterborough, but the game at the Crown Ground is the one that really did it for me. I hope for some form of revenge and 3 points this time!
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