Minnows United by Mat Guy

Author:Mat Guy
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781912147069
Publisher: Luath Press Ltd
Published: 2017-03-16T04:00:00+00:00

Postscript:

It wasn’t to be. Despite two valiant efforts over home and away legs against Wimbledon, Stanley were once again victims of a cruel fate when, yet again, a seemingly goal-bound Shay McCartan header in injury time somehow stayed out.

A wonder save from the Wimbledon keeper denied Shay and Accrington what would have been a deserved equaliser in the first leg; leaving players and fans alike to stare up into the dark, London night, and hope that things could turn around in the return fixture the following Wednesday.

And a Josh Windass penalty and then a fantastic strike from all of 30 yards by Piero Mingoia, which no doubt had his dad beaming with pride and jumping around in his lucky seat, looked set to steer Stanley Wembley way.

However, a bullet header from evergreen striker Adebayo Akinfenwa sent the match into extra time, and a second Wimbledon goal swung the tie in their favour. A 3-2 aggregate win sent their 1000-strong travelling fans into raptures, and their team to a playoff final against Plymouth.

For Stanley, their amazing season fell just short right at the very last. What would have been ten days looking forward to a first ever Wembley final for the club was instead replaced with emotional farewells.

Loan players such as Brad Halliday and Tarique Fosu, who had played such an important role in Accrington’s year now had to leave and return to their parent clubs, their first taste of first team football over for the time being.

Defeat for Josh Windass and Matt Crooks, whose careers had looked like being over before they had even started, before their chance at Stanley, meant they would be packing their bags for a new life north of the border a little earlier than they had hoped. A career with Glasgow Rangers and Old Firm derbies against Celtic beckoned, as did the very real chance of League titles and Cup victories, even European football. Leaving as better players on the pitch, and more grounded people off it than when they first arrived, their Accrington schooling will hold them in good stead for whatever the future brings for them.

Piero Mingoia, discarded by Watford, and unwanted by all but Stanley three years ago, found himself very much back on the wanted list after more than 150 appearances for Accrington.

A move much closer to the family home to play for Cambridge United was an offer he couldn’t turn down; the Wham Stadium faithful having to wave goodbye to a hero on the pitch in Piero, and a good friend and familiar face in Piero’s dad in the stands.

While the future seems bright for Matt, Josh and Piero, this play-off loss means it will be a tense time for those Stanley players whose contracts expire in the summer, as the nervous wait to see if they have done enough to be offered a new deal begins. From the possibility of promotion to League One through a Wembley final one Saturday, to finding yourself unemployed the next; the realities of life as a player in League Two can be very cruel indeed.

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