BRIGHT YOUNG STAR: Stanley midfielder Andy Procter is one youngsters who has proved himself with the Reds this season

Stanley stars set themselves higher standards

We are growing

up says Coleman

ACCRINGTON Stanley boss John Coleman is gratified that his side are showing more and more maturity as this season throws new and bigger challenges at them.

Just two seasons ago Stanley were trying to find their feet in the UniBond League top flight, whereas now they are in the third round of the FA Cup and have their sights firmly set on winning a play-off place in the Nationwide Conference.

Monday night's penalty shoot-out FA Cup second round victory over second division Bournemouth at the Interlink Express Stadium was another huge stride forward for Coleman's side, and he feels his players are beginning to understand what is expected of them.

"The fact that we lived with Bournemouth, who are a good League side, for three and a half hours shows just what my players can do when they put their minds to it," said Coleman.

"Having watched the way they handled themselves through that tie you wouldn't think they were the same group of players that let in five goals so cheaply at home to Telford.

"But that is football and we know exactly what we are capable of if we can put our minds to the job in hand.

"What we have to do is transfer the spirit and application we have shown in the cup games into a concerted effort to ensure that we reach the play-offs."

And the cause is being helped by the emergence of young stars like midfielder Andy Procter and defender Paul Howarth, who coolly slotted away the decisive penalty against the Cherries.

"On Monday night Paul Cook and Andy Procter covered every blade of grass and worked so hard for each other, and it is good that they go out and enjoying playing together," said Coleman.

"Then you have Paul Howarth, who scored his first goal for the club in the Conference on Saturday and just two days later shows his character in taking a penalty in the cup.

"If I try to equate the pressure of penalties in that situation it is like walking across a foot wide beam. With one foot off the floor you can walk that beam over and over again, but stick it 200 feet up in the air and it is a different matter - even though the beam is still the same width.

"Taking those penalties the way they did shows the character my players have because not one of them looked like missing."

And Coleman's squad will need all their strength as a squad over the next two weeks.

They start their crucial Christmas holiday spell at Leigh RMI on Saturday and then follow that with home and away meetings with Morecambe on Boxing Day and New Year's Day.

Maximum points from those games would lift Stanley towards the play-off places, but it will be a big task - to be followed on Saturday, January 3 by the FA Cup third round home meeting with Colchester United at the Interlink Express Stadium.