Crosby hails late leveller as crucial in survival bid

By Nigel Blackwell

ACCRINGTON ST 3

B Woods 1, Walton 24, J Woods 42

ACCRINGTON: Kelly 6, Matthews 7, Rawson 7 (Quirk 83, 6), Ward 8, Love 7, Coyle 7, Woods 7, Batty 6, Whalley 7 (Grant 84, 6), Walton 9 (Mooney 88), Woods 8 (Caton 88). Subs not used: Isherwood, O’Brien-Whitmarsh, Hunter.

TRANMERE R 3

Patrick 78, 90+11, Dennis 87

TRANMERE: McGee 6, O’Connor 6, Turnbull 6 (Taylor 68, 6), Wood 6 (Davies 32, 7), Hawkes 6 (Bradshaw 68, 7), Merrie 6 (Morris 45, 7), Finley 7, Patrick 9, Jennings 6 (Davison 45, 6), Hendry 7, Dennis 7. Subs not used: Murphy, Garrett.

Att: 3,197 Rating: ★★★★★ Ref: James Oldham 6/10

ANDY Crosby, Tranmere Rovers interim manager, said Omari Patrick’s 101st-minute equaliser with relegation rivals Accrington Stanley could be a “huge point for the future of the football club”.

Stanley, sitting in 22nd place, raced into a three-goal lead in the first half, but Patrick’s second-half brace helped 21stplaced Tranmere secure a valuable point.

“It was two different sides in the first and second half,” Crosby said.

“We didn’t compete in the first half, I don’t think we could have possibly done any worse, and we were lucky wewere only 3-0down at half time.

“I questioned a lot of things at half-time. It was a very angrydressing room, but the response in the second half really shut me up.

“We have got really good players in the final third, it’s about getting them on the ball. All three goals were brilliant individual finishes. The players should be proud.

“I think the 11 minutes of added time was justified and we produced that last moment. We got the point and that could be a huge point for the future of the football club.”

The visitors made a dream start, taking the lead just 43 seconds in when the ball fell to Ben Woods on the edge of the area and he blasted it home.

Accrington continued to dominate and doubled their lead in the 24th minute as Josh Woods’ cross was headed in by Tyler Walton.

Their third came in the 42nd minute when Donald Love broke forward and found Josh Woods in the box, who stroked the ball into an empty net.

Tranmere looked brighter after the break and pulled one back in the 78th minute when Patrick curled in a superb 30-yard free-kick.

Nine minutes later, Kristian Dennis made space on the edge of the area and rifled a brilliant strike into the top corner to make it 3-2.

Rovers pushed forward during 11 minutes of added time, and in the final moments, Patrick collected the ball on the edge of the box and fired in a stunning equaliser to complete the comeback.

Stanley boss John Doolan said he was gutted to see a vital three points slip away.

“The first-half performance was good,” he said.

“I am a glass-halffull person and at this stage of the season you have to take the positives.

“We have to pick ourselves up and get over the line.”