Robbie shows he's the one for goals

ROBBIE Williams might want to re-negotiate his contract if his current form is anything to go by.

The central defender, who has gone around 18 months without scoring, doesn't have the lure of a goal bonus worked into his deal.

But, having been granted the freedom of the penalty area at set pieces, Williams has come up with the goods twice in Accrington Stanley's opening two games.

After teeing up Paul Mullin's goal against Burton Albion on Saturday, the Liverpudlian buried a bullet header of his own past Morecambe goalkeeper Adam Sollitt.

It proved to be the match winner, as Williams added to Ian Craney's ninth minute wonder goal, leaving the 24-year-old on cloud nine.

"It's about halfway through the season before last since I scored. It seems longer, so it was a nice feeling to score but I didn't know how to celebrate," grinned Williams.

"I'd said to Jon Kennedy on the way down, though, that I fancied scoring.

"I'm not on a goal bonus because I don't score many, but I might have to negotiate one now."

Craney probably has little to worry about on that score, however.

He opened his account for the Reds with a superb 25-yard strike, which he created out of virtually nothing to set Stanley on their way.

And judging by his hunger and desire to get forward, there's plenty more where that came from.

The former Altrincham midfielder has made the step up to Conference level with consummate ease, revealing just why Stanley boss John Coleman was prepared to wait for his signature.

Morecambe's summer signing Michael Twiss, who Coleman had also targeted, brought a save from Kennedy after just 30 seconds, but Craney gave Sollitt no chance.

The midfielder picked the ball up close to the halfway line, made an angled run and, as the defence backed off, Craney duly pulled the trigger, firing a right-foot drive into the top corner.

The Shrimps searched for an equaliser and went close through Garry Thompson, Kieran Walmsley and Wayne Curtis.

But having been stung by Morecambe in three of their four meetings last season, Stanley knew they had to be more clinical.

Lee McEvilly grafted to win a corner after stealing the ball off Walmsley, much to the agitation of the home fans.

Steve Jagielka pumped the ball to the far post, where Williams towered above a packed six-yard box to thump the ball beyond Sollitt.

Mullin almost added a third just before the break, but there was a little too much on Craney's cross and the striker couldn't keep his header down.

Morecambe had begun the game with a 4-3-3 formation, which changed fluidly to 4-5-1 on the defensive to match Stanley's midfield quintet.

They had to change things round at the start of the second half and opted for a more orthodox 4-4-2, slowly picking their punches as they looked to wear Coleman's men down.

But full-time Stanley are fighting fit, and while captain Jim Bentley's 78th minute header from Walmsley's free kick was a blow to the Reds, they weren't prepared to be out for the count.

James had already had a goal disallowed for offside, Mullin was denied by Sollitt's legs from close range, and Jagielka and substitute Stuart Howson went close in the final moments.

There was a sharp intake of breath when five minutes of added time were indicated. But Mullin's diving, defensive header in his own area epitomised a desire that will be hard to break down.