Accrington Stanley 2 Barnet 1

Last updated : 12 August 2006 By Footymad Previewer
Benin international Romauld Boco grabbed two goals to hand Accrington Stanley their first Football League win since 1962.

The French-born striker pounced after 35 minutes to give Stanley the lead against a physical Barnet side and rounded off an excellent performance with a second-half strike.

The home side rode their luck early on. Ian Dunbavin in the Stanley goal was given a wake-up call after just 60 seconds when Ian Hendon's clearance rattled the crossbar.

A minute later there was panic in the Accrington box when a Nicky Bailey cross found Dean Sinclair but his shot was cleared off the line by Leam Richardson.

Stanley grew in confidence throughout the first half and could have taken the lead after 32 minutes when Andrew Todd found Paul Mullin. He slipped a ball through to Gary Roberts whose sliding back-post effort cannoned off the woodwork.

Four minutes later Accrington did grab the lead. Veteran Paul Warhurst made a hash of a defensive clearance handing the ball straight to Boco who lobbed it over Lee Harrison from 15 yards.

Boco doubled his tally on 53 minutes. Ian Craney split the defence with a superb run and stinging shot which was saved by Harrison.

However, the ball fell straight into the path of Boco who smashed it into an open goal.

Accrington pressed forward looking for more goals and Boco could have had his third on 72 minutes but he blasted over the bar from a Mullin through ball.

Barnet could have pulled a goal back midway through the second half when a free-kick from Bailey found Liam Hatch at the back post.

However, his effort would not have counted as the referee ruled the kick had been taken too soon.

Barnet boss Paul Fairclough made three changes late on in a bid to grab a goal and he was rewarded on 89 minutes when Simon King followed up from a Bailey shot.

Barnet tried in vain for an equaliser but Accrington held out for all three points.