ACCRINGTON Stanley boss John Coleman gambled and won as his side claimed their second Football League scalp in the FA Cup.

A penalty by Paul Howarth in the sudden-death shoot-out was enough to book the Reds a place in the third round for the first time in the re-formed club's history.

With the Reds tied with second division Bournemouth at 0-0 after 120 minutes of their second round replay at the Interlink Express Stadium last night, Coleman took off his leading scorer and his goalkeeper.

The replacement of Jamie Speare by Jon Kennedy between the sticks, and of striker Paul Mullin by defender Gordon Armstrong, brought gasps from the Stanley fans, but a 5-3 win on penalties justified Coleman's cunning plan.

"It was something I have believed in doing, though this was the first opportunity I have had to see it through," admitted Coleman.

"It was no slight on Jamie as a keeper at all, but I felt that to bring Jon on would unsettle them.

"They have played against one keeper all game, but then are faced by a stranger for the penalties and I felt that might ruffle their feathers.

"And I also took off my leading scorer, but that one was easier.

"I don't think Paul would have taken a penalty even if you had held a gun to his head.

"But that is how it is. I have a decision to take and thankfully it paid off rather than blow up in my face."

A miss by Cherries defender Karl Broadhurst set-up Stanley's Paul Howarth to roll in the winning spot kick after the opening seven penalties had all been converted and that sets the Reds up for a clash with another second division side Colchester United.

The Layer Road club are due at the Interlink Express Stadium on January 3 and they will be wary of not following League colleagues Bournemouth and Huddersfield to the cup scrap heap at the hands of Stanley.

However, Coleman was not about to let his side run away with their success.

"It is great for the club to have reached the third round and now we have got Colchester," he said.

"But I will not say that we will beat them because, like Bournemouth, they are another good side.

"All we can do is give it our best effort and see what comes our way.

"Some people have said it is not a big tie, but it is big enough for me because Colchester are another good League side.

"But what we will have is our ground packed to the rafters and if the players show the same spirit as they did in the two games against Bournemouth then I won't complain whatever result we get!"