Gibbo's 92.: Accrington Stanley FC - The Crown Ground (Revisit)

- Ground Number 8 (Revisited) -

- 20/03/2010 -

- Accrington Stanley FC 3-0 Dagenham & Redbridge FC-

One thought dominated my mind - 'I hope to never experience weather like that again.'

Torrential downpours and 70mph gusts, complete with open terracing resulted in awful conditions in which to watch a game of football.

After setting out from a sunny Bolton, I arrived at a very damp Crown Ground at 13:30. After walking around taking a few photos I met Nick and Charlie who had travelled up on the coach from Dagenham. Before going through the turnstiles we bought a programme off a well mannered young lad with a strong Blackburn accent.

This was my second trip to Accrington, and having seen how poor the away end was on my previous trip I wasn't exactly looking forward to an afternoon of getting wet.

As we entered the ground we could see an undercover terrace on the right hand side (The Whinney Hill Terrace) which looked as though it could keep us dry for the afternoon. However, the joy was short lived when we realised the gusts were blowing the rain straight into our faces.

I then decided to have my usual photo inside the ground. I walked to the perimeter wall of the pitch, and leant against a gate. The gate was not stable, and I somehow broke it... I'll just blame the wind.

After that near death experience we hiked up the terracing of The Coppice to help tie the Daggers flags down. With the prevailing winds and lack of help, the whole thing failed really- resulting in the whole thing being abandoned.

The rain continued to bounce down on the dark degraded terracing. Well, it wasn't really terracing anymore... it was more of a river. A steward even rowed past us in a kayak at one stage. It was getting ridiculous.

The view from the Coppice Terrace (Away end) was actually very good. With the Crown Ground being so small and compact there were no problems seeing across the pitch. Nor were there any problems watching the game of rugby which was going on behind us.

Meanwhile in the newly named Sophia Khan Stand the Accrington fans were in singing mood as usual. They sounded like hardcore Lancastrians and the Dagenham fans seemed scared. With popular chants such as ♫ Oh Lancashire is wonderful ♫. However, Dagenham fans soon had the wit to change the lyrics to; ♫ Oh Lancashire is full of rain ♫.

I would love to talk about events of the first half, but to be honest... not a lot happened. Accrington were playing their usual way - fast flowing, physical football. Dagenham on the other hand were just playing long ball, which doesn't work on a slick pitch.

The first chance of the match fell to Accrington when Micah Evans latched on to a great through ball from Craig Lindfield. Evans struck the ball well, but it went just wide of the post.

Luke Joyce (Who went to my Primary and Secondary schools) then played Evans through again. With the Dagenham fans thinking Evans had to score this time, he fired wide of Lewingtons goal yet again.

Moments later Joyce and Evans linked up again to cause more problems for the struggling Daggers defence. This time it was Evans who was provider, and Joyce was unable to beat Lewington who had been in inspired form so far.

The teams went into half-time goalless, with potty mouthed Ian Dunbavin in the Accrington goal having not made a save. I have had past experience with this foul mouthed professional at Gigg Lane. He was coming out for the second half, and I was stood behind his net. "Iannnnnn I like your pink shirt, it really suits you darling!" - Ian wasn't happy and he then fired a few obscenities in my direction.

Now usually at half time, you would go down to the concourse and huddle together to reclaim some warmth. However, the only place we could huddle was inside a portacabin with a urinal. After getting bored, and slightly uncomfortable in the portacabin we ventured to the burger van to see what was on offer.

It was reasonably priced, with a double cheeseburger costing £2.50 and a cup of tea costing just £1. However, they had no pies. What kind of Northern ground doesn't serve pies? Especially when The Hollands Pies Factory is less than a mile down the road. There was also a beer stand on offer, but not even the biggest alcoholic would have wanted an ice cold Budweiser in the conditions.

The rain eased off slightly in the second half. This gave me a great opportunity to teach Nick and Billy some Northern laws. The most valuable one they took away from their Accrington experience was;

"NEVER mention the fact that it is not raining. It will soon begin to rain."

Dagenham came out for the second half looking slightly more fired up than in the first, and it wasn't long before they had their first shot. Brian Woodall volleyed the ball just past Dunbavin in the Accrington goal. Momentum stayed with The Daggers for a few minutes.

Stanley however scored their first goal which they fully deserved. Evans cut the ball across Dagenham penalty area and Lindfield fired the ball past Lewington to score his first goal of the season.

Dagenham were extremely unlucky not to equalise when Christian Montano beat the defence before then rounding Dunbavin. Abu Ogogo then received the ball but the midfielder’s shot was somehow cleared off the line by the outstanding Joyce.

With 15 minutes remaining John Coleman brought on Charlie Barnett and Padraig Amond for Accrington, which proved to be a tactical masterclass.

The two substitutes doubled Stanley’s lead on 83 minutes. Barnett ran well down the wing before delivering a pinpoint cross to the front post for Amond to head home.

One minute later and the match was put beyond the tiring Dagenham. Amond the scorer again. He picked the ball up on the edge of the box and fired a low shot past Lewington in the Dagenham net.

The result leaves Dagenham in the relegation zone, and Accrington gradually climbing up the table.... and hopefully towards a playoff position!

It had been an entertaining day at the Crown Ground, despite the awful conditions. It still remains one of my favourite grounds in the football league due to its compact and Northern feel.

It was also very nice to meet Nick and Billy and a few more of the Dagenham fans who I will no doubt keep in touch with. If you want to follow them on Twitter - '@NickDRFCMurphy' and '@EssexDaggerBC' is what you need! You can also find Nicks' blog here - http://thedaggersscale.blogspot.com/