Stanley 2-3 TAMWORTH

Stanley had the first real chance when Ian Craney put a powerful shot just wide after good work on the left by Rory Prendergast but the first minutes of the game were promising as Stanley had most of the possession and Stanley had another chance to open the scoring when Lee McEvilly's good run and shot forced a good save from the visiting ‘keeper but Rory Prendergast's resulting corner was too nigh and came to nothing.

Despite Stanley's early possession it was Tamworth who got the first goal of the game, Bob Taylor slotting home to send the Tamworth fans wild.

Another fantastic Lee McEvilly run saw Paul Mullin failed to connect but Stanley were defiantly second best after the goal and Jon Kennedy soon had to make a smart save to deny Tamworth a second goal and the corner was caught by the ‘keeper but after he dropped the ball there was a gopalmouth scramble but the ball was finally cleared but the visitors were looking threatening.

Stanley's goal came just before half time when a re-taken Lee McEvilly free-kick hit the crossbar and the rebound fell straight to Paul Mullin who just couldn't miss the open net he was presented with.

Tamworth had the last kick of the half when their free-kick hit the Stanley wall.

Half time saw Lutel James come on for Rory Prendergast but Tamworth took an early lead when a mix-up between Peter Cavanagh and Jon Kennedy saw Shaun Harrad score from an extremely wide position. Stanley could have had another equaliser but Craney somehow missed his shot from inside the six-yard box and Stanley were not at their best going forward or defending.

More poor defending from the Reds allowed Marvin Brown through and he had a lot of time to calmly slot past Kennedy to see Tamworth go 3-1 up and Jagielka's long range shot was the closest Stanley got to a goal for the next few minutes.

A rare Stanley attack earned a corner, which Jon Smith, who had come on as a sub for Robbie Williams just minute's earlier, scored a powerful header and Smith clearly looked delighted.

Tamworth hit the bar after Jagielka for some reason decided to head the ball straight to a Tamworth player who was fouled by Mike Flynn and the resulting shot beat Jon Kennedy and rattled the woodwork and Stanley did the same just minutes later with another good header by Jon Smith.

Paul Mullin missed a poor one-on-one as Stanley looked desperate to get a goal, a bit too desperate as the attacks were often hurried and came to nothing.

The six minutes added time wasn't enough for the Reds to get a third and they slipped to defeat.

Kev Robinson (www.accystan.co.uk)

Stanley: Kennedy, Cavanagh, Butler, Williams, Flynn, Prendergast, Craney, Brannan, Jagielka, McEvilly, Mullin