Post by Taxigirl on Dec 16, 2003 9:19:08 GMT
Accrington 0-0 Bournemouth
After extra time, Accrington Stanley win 5-3 on penalties.
Accrington Stanley have taken another League scalp to reach the third round of the FA Cup following a dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Bournemouth on Monday evening.
Paul Howarth's spot kick sent the Conference club through to host Colchester United in round three, after 120 minutes of goalless second round replay football failed to separate the two clubs, who drew 1-1 in the original tie at Dean Court.
On a cold Monday evening in Lancashire, the hard and frosty Interlink Express Stadium pitch allowed for plenty of ball movement from both sides but no real finishing touches in the first half.
Early on, Bournemouth's Steve Fletcher missed an excellent chance when his right foot volley from the edge of the box that flew over the bar.
Despite some decent pressure from the Conference club, it was Stanley goalkeeper Jamie Speare that made the best save of the half when Warren Feeney broke through to strike right footed from the right side of goal after Fletcher played the ball into his path, as both sides went into the break at 0-0.
The second half saw plenty of attacking endeavour from the visiting Cherries but their continuing lack of finish proved telling once more.
Fletcher missed two glorious chances from the same angle, with his first strike being well saved by a diving Speare and the second chance running across the face of goal from the right-hand side of the box.
At this stage, Sean O'Driscoll's men were always looking more likely to score but Feeney and James Hayter were then guilty of squandering chances of their own.
This allowed John Coleman's side to have an attacking spell of their own in the dying stages of the half, with Paul Mullin forcing a great save from Cherries goalkeeper Neil Moss after Rory Prendergast knocked on a throw-in into Bournemouth's box.
Then, Stanley's Andrew Procter had two chances to become a Cup hero, with the first being a goal-bound strike that unluckily hit team-mate Steve Halford in front of goal before being denied by Moss moments later after a fine header from a corner, as both sides headed for the inevitable extra time.
Accrington had the best chance of the extra time period, with substitute Steve Flitcroft forcing Moss into another fine save after Bournemouth defenders Karl Broadhurst and Warren Cummings collided with each other when challenging to clear the same ball in the box.
With penalties looming, Coleman decided to change his keeper by replacing Speare with back-up Jon Kennedy for the impending shoot-out.
In the shoot-out, Stanley led 4-3 on penalties when Broadhurst stepped up for The Cherries but his spot kick sailed over the bar, allowing Howarth the chance to send the non-leaguers through.
He finished with aplomb to spark great celebrations among the players and supporters, with Stanley adding Bournemouth to the scalp of Huddersfield Town from the first round, as Accrington's Cup dream continues.