Our Life in Their Hands

By: Jonathan Spurr
Date: 28/04/2010 (Last updated: 02/05/2010)

I TRAVELLED the two and bit hours to Stanley with Mighty Mariner aka Andy Carr, my little brother, 2 school of excellence players and two others. The feeling was surreal: we were going to support another team and not the Mariners, yet we were all in Town colours.

I went to see Lincoln vs. Bournemouth last season when we were chasing them and I sat in the Lincoln end and cheered as they went 3-2 ahead and won the game. At the time gave us a life line, in the end it didn't matter as Chester went down plus there was still games to play but last night we could have been relegated so it was totally different.

I want to say RIP to Andy’s granddad who passed away the night before who was a lifelong Town fan and he will be proud to know Andy was there supporting Stanley to help us in our quest to stay up.

Joining up with other Town/Stanley fans in the Crown pub was an amazing sight, two sets of fans in League Two coming together to support one team. They welcomed us with open hands and made us feel like we was at an home game.

Anyway this is a match report supposedly so....

I can't tell you about team news because to be fair I don't know what their starting line-ups were or anything and I'm doing this straight from memory and not checking sites to get info from.

Accrington started strongly and didn't look like a side who were bottom of the form table. Within 10 minutes the hearts of Town fans were in their mouths when Stanley’s Billy Grant took a cracking free kick which had to be tipped over by the Barnet keeper. With the Town fans backing Stanley an awesome atmosphere was helping the Stanley 11 press and within minutes they should have been ahead with Town target Symes crossing in low and a McConville shot was cleared off the line much to the despair of both Stanley and Mariners fans who celebrated as it seemed destined to go in with no player on the line until someone for Barnet appeared out of nowhere to clear it!

As the first half went on, Stanley dominated throughout and could have been winning 4-0 but for the Barnet keeper who kept them in the game. Mariners fans continued to sing throughout along with the Stanley 'Ultras' with us even having a little-sing off with them which made the night a little easier for Mariners fans.

Half Time 0-0

The second half started as the first started - Stanley dominating play. The Mariners fans at the game and those who listened online or who were being updated by the Fishy Forum had a long 18 minute wait until the breakthrough came. On 73 mins Stanley substitute Billy Key put Stanley ahead when he linked up well with Symes to slot the ball behind the Barnet keeper.

The Mariners fans along with Look North’s Phil Norton erupted in the Clayton end and along with Stanley fans celebrated like the Mariners had just taken the lead. With everyone singing "we're having a party when Grimsby stay up" it was a fantastic few minutes but once the goal celebrations were over it was a nail biting wait for the final 17 minutes.

I'm not going to lie here I can't remember what happened other than Accy had two 1 on 1 chances which they missed into the closing stages half the time I had my scarf covering my face because I was to scared to watch or I was praying everything would be ok. While the Mariners fans prayed and looked extremely nervous cries of "blow your whistle" to the inept referee were coming from the Stanley Ultras and Mariners fans. Eventually the long suffering was over. The full time whistle went.

Full Time: Accrington 1 Barnet 0

Man of the Match : Accrington and Mariners fans. Often people say the fans made a difference and a lot of Stanley said our presence tonight spurred them on to sing louder and with us joining in - they believe we had played a huge part in their victory so for that alone, MOM goes to the fans.

Final points:

Barnet have one player to look out for on Saturday their right winger was the only player who looked worthwhile on the pitch and on the way back if he was to face Bore we believe Bore would be able to handle him, so we're optimistic for the victory on Saturday.

A final mention to my lil bro Jord, BBC Look North’s Phil Norton, Nilo, GTFC drummer Gilly, Kaz, Jordan, Josh, Walker, Flash and Padge who along with all the other Mariners fans who made the journey were a credit to our club. The Stanley Ultra’s and Accrington Stanley FC who made every single Town fan welcome and made our night a night all of us will remember forever.

The rollercoaster continues for 2 more games, let's hope its all uphill and we can cross the finish line in 22nd and stay up!

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