Live Commentary
Match Preview
Stanley carry on without Coleman Alan Burton is the only remaining concern for Accrington, who begin life without John Coleman with the visit of Gillingham in npower League Two. Burton is still weeks away from action as he continues his rehabilitation from a double hernia operation. Fellow defender Sean Hessey has resumed training following a hamstring injury and could be selected in Leam Richardson's first squad since taking caretaker charge following Coleman and assistant Jimmy Bell's departure to Rochdale this week. Veteran playmaker Bryan Hughes is also part of the interim backroom team and is expected to keep his place in the side. Director of youth Phil Hackney completes the temporary management trio and he told Accrington's official website that the players remain fully focused on the task in hand against Andy Hessenthaler's side. "The players are still very enthusiastic about what they want to achieve this season and hopefully we'll guide them in that direction." Hessenthaler is set to make changes to his Gillingham line-up. The Gills boss was furious with the manner of his team's defending last Saturday as they threw away a 3-1 lead with 17 minutes remaining to go down 4-3 at home to AFC Wimbledon. That means Simon King could come in for his first start since last May while skipper Andy Frampton is rated at 50/50 as he looks to return from a hamstring injury. Hessenthaler will assess Frampton's progress before deciding whether to recall fellow defender Connor Essam, 19, from his loan spell at non-league Dartford to make his first-team debut for the Kent club, but Matt Fish (ankle) remains sidelined. Elsewhere, forwards Danny Kedwell (broken rib) and Jo Kuffour (bronchitis) both proved their fitness to start last weekend and the pair should be involved once again.
Match Report
Stanley edge seven-goal thriller Michael Smith bagged a hat-trick as the post-John Coleman era at Accrington got off to a winning start - but not without a few jitters as Stanley edged past Gillingham 4-3. Coleman this week left the Crown Ground after 13 years to join Rochdale and caretaker boss Leam Richardson will not want too many games like this as his side almost squandered a 4-1 lead. Accrington needed just 45 seconds to break the deadlock. A poor throw from Gills goalkeeper Ross Flitney went straight to Padraig Amond, who raced down left and played in a cross from which Smith - on his home debut on loan from Charlton - tapped home. It was all square after seven minutes when Danny Jackman's 25-yard free-kick levelled for the Gills. But Stanley regained the lead when Peter Murphy set up Smith on the edge of area and his low shot sneaked into the bottom of the net beyond the diving Flitney. Number three came after 31 minutes as Smith turned provider to set up Luke Joyce 20 yards out. And, in a cracking game, Murphy's right-wing cross found Smith unmarked to tap home for his hat-trick on the stroke of half-time. Gillingham boss Andy Hessenthaler made a double substitution at the break - bringing on second-choice `keeper Paulo Gazzaniga and midfielder Curtis Weston. And his side got their second after 70 minutes when a mistake by home `keeper Ian Dunbavin allowed Gavin Tomlin to nip in and fire home. Then, with five minutes left, Weston set up Tomlin who rifled the ball home - registering his second brace in as many games since his loan arrival from Dagenham - to set up a nervy finish for the new Reds management. But it was not to be as Gillingham fell to a 4-3 defeat for the second successive weekend.
Form Guide
- WDWWLD
- Accrington Stanley
- VS
- Gillingham WWLWLL
Last Meetings
- Gillingham
- 1 - 1
- Accrington Stanley
- 10/09/2011
- Gillingham
- 3 - 1
- Accrington Stanley
- 12/03/2011
- Accrington Stanley
- 7 - 4
- Gillingham
- 02/10/2010
- Accrington Stanley
- 0 - 2
- Gillingham
- 07/03/2009
- Gillingham
- 1 - 0
- Accrington Stanley
- 30/08/2008
- Accrington Stanley
- 3 - 0
- Gillingham
- 12/09/1960
Top Scorers
Accrington Stanley
- P Amond 4
- C Lindfield 3
- P Murphy 3
- M Evans 3
- B Hughes 2
- S Hessey 2
- K McIntyre 1
- D Coid 1
- I Craney 1
- D Winnard 1
- C Barnett 1
Gillingham
- J Kuffour 7
- C Whelpdale 4
- D Jackman 3
- D Kedwell 3
- L Montrose 3
- D Spiller 2
- G Tomlin 2
- G Richards 1
- C Lee 1
- J Payne 1
- S Payne 1
Goals
Accrington Stanley
- Total goals 63
- Goals per game 34
- 2 (For) 3 (Against) Period 0-10 mins
- 3 (For) 4 (Against) Period 11-20 mins
- 2 (For) 5 (Against) Period 21-30 mins
- 3 (For) 5 (Against) Period 31-40 mins
- 2 (For) 5 (Against) Period 41-50 mins
- 3 (For) 3 (Against) Period 51-60 mins
- 5 (For) 1 (Against) Period 61-70 mins
- 6 (For) 1 (Against) Period 71-80 mins
- 8 (For) 2 (Against) Period 81-90 mins
Gillingham
- Total goals 73
- Goals per game 44
- 6 (For) 2 (Against) Period 0-10 mins
- 3 (For) 1 (Against) Period 11-20 mins
- 5 (For) 3 (Against) Period 21-30 mins
- 3 (For) 4 (Against) Period 31-40 mins
- 8 (For) 1 (Against) Period 41-50 mins
- 3 (For) 6 (Against) Period 51-60 mins
- 4 (For) 4 (Against) Period 61-70 mins
- 5 (For) 5 (Against) Period 71-80 mins
- 7 (For) 9 (Against) Period 81-90 mins
