ACCRINGTON STANLEY

Sean McConville 15

WYCOMBE WANDERERS

Scott Kashket 77, Alex Samuel 90+1

ACCRINGTON Stanley fans, and no doubt manager John Coleman, will point to valid penalty appeals being ignored as a key moment in a late defeat to Wycombe.

There were a string of David Stockdale saves too, with the on-loan Birmingham City stopper keeping the Chairboys in it in the first half, as well as a couple of big moments in the second.

But really the Reds only had themselves to blame for failing to capitalise on a plethora of chances in a game they dominated. Their winless run in League One is now six games after substitute Scott Kashket and Alex Samuel scored late goals for Wycombe.

Gareth Ainsworth’s side were without a win in Accrington in five visits – the previous four before last season resulting in 1-1 draws, with the Reds having to come back from behind in three of them.

More pressingly, Stanley were without a goal in their last two games, so would have put even greater emphasis on getting on the front foot early.

McConville delivered in the 15th minute, collecting a rebound and driving home after Jordan Clark had two efforts charged down on the edge of the box.

There were chances at either end after that but most of them came Stanley’s way and they would have been wondering how their lead wasn’t more at the break.

McConville might have had a hat-trick but for the efforts of Stockdale, while Sam Finley could have also walked away with the match ball on another night.

The attacking midfielder went close to what would have been a spectacular second. His curling effort from distance looked destined for the top right corner but Stockdale pulled off a stunning save to tip it round the post.

Finley then took the ball off Clark on the edge of the box and hit an instinctive low shot but Stockdale was again a match for it.

The former York and Brighton stopper went on to deny McConville from a brilliant free kick in stoppage time, moments after Billy Kee had hit the crossbar.

Craig Mackail-Smith had posed an early threat for the Chairboys that Stanley managed to repel, but it was virtually all Stanley up to half-time.

Wycombe came into the game in the second half and a double substitution proved to be a turning point.

Kashket almost scored with his first touch but did eventually hit back in the 78th minute before Kee somehow failed to convert from close range with the clock ticking down.

Instead there were celebrations at the opposite end as Samuel drilled home in stoppage time.

STANLEY: Connor Ripley 6; Callum Johnson 6, Michael Ihiekwe 6, Mark Hughes 6, Nick Anderton 6; Jordan Clark 7, Dan Barlaser 6, Seamus Conneely 6, Sean McConville 8; Sam Finley 8 (Offrande Zanzala 79); Billy Kee 6. Subs not used: Jonny Maxted, Ben Richards-Everton, Scott Brown, Connor Hall, Ross Sykes, Piero Mingoia.

WYCOMBE: David Stockdale; Jason McCarthy, Sido Jombati, Adam El-Abd, Michael Harriman; Curtis Thompson (Bryn Morris 75); Alex Samuel, Nick Freeman (Nathan Tyson 66), Dominic Gape, Fred Onyedinma; Craig Mackail-Smith (Scott Kashket 66). Subs not used: Cameron Yates, Joe Jacobson, Anthony Stewart, Randell Williams.

Attendance: 1,740 (190)