Stanley seen off by Boro

Stevenage beat Accrington 2-0 in their League Two play-off semi-final first leg at the Lamex Stadium.

Last Updated: 15/05/11 at 22:13 Post Comment

Stevenage and Accrington: Handbags at ten paces

Stevenage and Accrington: Handbags at ten paces

Accrington came into the game on the back of a 13-match unbeaten run which stretched back to mid-March, but they never reached their best form and were comfortably dealt with by Graham Westley's disciplined side.

Stacy Long opened the scoring with a deflected effort from the edge of the box before Joel Byrom profited from poor defending to prod in the second.

Stevenage are now favourites to book a place at Old Trafford but John Coleman's side have only lost three times at home all season and could be a different proposition on their weathered Crown Ground pitch.

Westley's side beat Newcastle in the FA Cup earlier this season and could cap a remarkable first year in the Football League with promotion.

Stanley winger Jimmy Ryan has been linked with an improbable summer move to Spanish side Real Zaragoza in recent weeks and had the first effort but his stinging volley was well blocked by Ronnie Henry.

Long then had the first sighter for the hosts, cutting in from the left to send a curling effort just wide of Alex Cisak's far post.

Stevenage captain Mark Roberts hooked an effort over from a corner before the home side took the lead in the 24th minute.

Henry's throw-in was held up well by striker Craig Reid and laid back to the edge of the area for Long to drive in a shot which was deflected past the dive of Cisak.

Darius Charles came close to a spectacular second when his volley from fully 25 yards looped over Cisak but came back off the inside of the post.

Stevenage were well on top and doubled their lead just before the break through Byrom.

Henry crossed from the right, Charles won the knock-down and midfielder Byrom was brave to get to the bouncing ball before a hesitant Cisak and loop a shot into the vacant net.

Stanley knew they had to breach the best defence in the division to claw their way back into contention after the break but, despite the superb support of their travelling fans, they struggled to make an impression.

Ryan and Terry Gornell combined well to get in behind on a rare attack but Stevenage easily cleared while Long threatened at the other end with a long-range hit which was held by Cisak.

Stanley's Sean McConville was then played in on goal by an errant backpass from Scott Laird but the winger hesitated as he tried to round Chris Day in the Stevenage goal and Ryan eventually fluffed the chance into the side-netting.

It was a dreadful miss and the visitors were then lucky not to be reduced to 10 men after Luke Joyce cynically scythed down Long as Stevenage mounted a three on one counter-attack.

Joyce escaped with a booking as both sides struggled to create much in the closing stages and Stevenage closed out the win.

Football365 Facebook Fan Page

The Football365 fan page is a great place to meet like minded people, have football related discussions and make new friends.

Sky Bet

    • Retrieving latest Sky Bet odds

More Match Results

Saturday, 18 May 2013
13:30
Bradford 3-0 Northamptn Report
Sunday, 05 May 2013
18:45
Cheltenham 0-1 Northamptn Report
12:00
Burton Alb 1-3 Bradford Report
Thursday, 02 May 2013
19:45
Bradford 2-3 Burton Alb Report
Northamptn 1-0 Cheltenham Report
Saturday, 27 April 2013
15:00
AFC W'don 2-1 Fleetwood  
Accrington 0-3 Oxford Utd Report
Burton Alb 3-2 Gillingham Report
Cheltenham 0-0 Bradford Report
Chesterfld 4-0 Exeter Report

npower League 2

Position Team P GD PTS
1 Gillingham 46 27 83
2 Rotherham 46 15 79
3 Port Vale 46 35 78
4 Burton Alb 46 6 76
5 Cheltenham 46 7 75
6 Northamptn 46 9 73
7 Bradford 46 11 69
8 Chesterfld 46 15 67
9 Oxford Utd 46 -1 65
10 Exeter 46 1 64
11 Southend 46 6 61
12 Rochdale 46 -2 61
13 Fleetwood 46 -2 60
14 Bristol R 46 -9 60
15 Wycombe 46 -10 60
16 Morecambe 46 -6 58
17 York City 46 -10 55
18 Accrington 46 -17 54
19 Torquay 46 -7 53
20 AFC W'don 46 -22 53
21 Plymouth 46 -9 52
22 Dag + Red 46 -7 51
23 Barnet 46 -12 51
24 Aldershot 46 -18 48

Updated Sat, 27 Apr 2013

Footer 365

Gill expecting Rooney to stay

Manchester United chief executive David Gill insists he is "confident" that Wayne Rooney to remain at the club next season.

Monaco confirm the signings of FC Porto duo Joao Moutinho and James Rodriguez

Monaco have confirmed the signings of FC Porto duo Joao Moutinho and James Rodriguez for a combined fee of €70million.

Phelan and Steele leave United

Manchester United are to part company with assistant manager Mike Phelan and goalkeeping coach Eric Steele.

Mail Box

Wayne Rooney Is Just An Average Athlete

That's the difference between him and someone like Cristiano Ronaldo - his body just isn't right. We have mails on him, Sparky, Brendan Rodgers and the Europa Lge...

Saving The Europa League And More...

Nice one UEFA, but not far enough. We have some ideas to make the Europa League better as well as more views on Wayne Rooney, Vermaelen in midfield and...

© 2013 British Sky Broadcasting Ltd. All Rights Reserved