Match Reaction: Accrington Stanley

Last updated : 28 March 2011 By The Stray Shots

Shots manager Dean Holdsworth spoke to BBC Radio Surrey following Saturday’s 1-1 draw with promotion chasing Accrington Stanley and although he was happy with the point earned, he was less impressed with the match saying: "It wasn't a pretty game, it was all stop-start with plenty of moaning and was a bit of a chore to be honest.

"We've had seven games and a great month, but there's a still a lot of learning to be done.

"There was no relaxing today, we came up against a good Accrington side who hunted us down well and stopped us playing."

To listen to the full interview, click here.

Meanwhile Accrington Stanley boss John Coleman failed to see his sides dirty tricks played any pat in the match and placed the blame on referee Phil Crossley saying: “That’s two points thrown away really – not even thrown away, possibly snatched away,” said the Reds boss.

“I fell out of love with football today from what I saw go on with the decisions that we had against us.

“I know you can sometimes feel sorry for yourselves and blame everybody else but yourself.

“We’ll take the blame for the goal we conceded, we didn’t think it was a foul but we haven’t defended the free kick into our box.

“But possibly six or seven other fouls weren’t fouls that we had to defend.

“When you work hard all week, you work on your pattern of play, your formation and your players’ fitness and they stick to it to the letter of the law then people who are outside your influence don’t do their job, it’s hard to take.

“The amount of decisions that were given against us that were unjust defied belief, culminating in a stonewall penalty.

“I’m not questioning anyone’s ability or integrity, and I can accept decisions being made wrong, but at some point you’d have to think that it should balance itself out, if not 50-50 then maybe 40-60.”

Meanwhile Accy supporters had the following to say on Accrington Web

"A bit disappointed 'cos we were the better team in the first half by a huge margin, snapping intoi tackles and winning the 40-60s.  Boulding looked good and pacy but slowed up after being dragged back by their no 5 when he looked in for a winner - think this is the "stonewall panalty" referred to above.

"High point for me seeing Sean Mac battling his way through a triple-teamed attempt to stop him - much stronger on the ball than I've ever seen him look before (OK I don't see him that often). Craney great for 70 mins but looked a bit tired from then on. Jimmy Ryan working his rocks off and Hessey's interception and drive forward to set up the goal superb."Chimer

"Well the match was as flat as a pancake but what an epic away day

"Football-wise: I think if we'd have had Gornell we'd have won the game. Thought Boulding's goal was a good finish but aside from that he was very, very poor. His positional sense was absent, as was his first touch. This is why I believe Craney looked to have a 'bad game'; he had nothing to aim at with his forward passing as Boulding was just not in the game either side of the goal. He may be a useful resource as a second striker but he is not a centre-forward. Lindfield for the next game (if Gornell is out) please. He is weak physically but has much more natural quality than Boulding. Rant over!

"I will take a point away from home any day of the week, especially when our home form is so good." – shakermaker

On the other side of the fence, Shotsweb users had this to say:

"Dreadful first half. Absolutely shocking performance!

"Better in the second but still not good enough.

"We won't sneak into the play-offs."Alex

"As has been said the first half was dire, no shots at goal, not a team performance. The second half was only a little better apart from the fact we managed to score a goal!! Yes we did not lose, we did not score more than 1 goal and we certainly did not entertain. The gate was good as has been said, but don't forget it was kids for a quid and there were a lot of kids. What the figure would have been without that offer - it can only have been down on recent gates and following the trend. I do want Aldershot to win, but I would prefer if as a team they tried to achieve that even if we conceded a goal. The football is dull, nothing to get excited about. There must be changes to the team next season and the sooner this one ends the better. You can tell seeing so many dire matches recently is taking its toll."hopeful

"I agree that Accrington were the better footballing side and dangerous upfront. Sadly, they also needlessly often went down claiming fouls when they did lose out in some tackles. In particular, Ryan was perhaps the biggest culprit and he was lucky not to receive a red card for kicking out at Straker as he walked away from a tackle. Fortunately for Ryan, the referee and the linesman saw nothing.

"Another hard earned point."Charles Dickens