FOR eight days everyone involved with Accrington Stanley has been dreaming of one of the biggest dates in the club’s history.

But the dream is over. Reality beckons for the Reds after a heartbreaking late defeat at Huish Park.

Stanley’s squad of young loanees and lower league stalwarts wouldn’t be human if they hadn’t lay awake at night over the last week and imagined lining up against Wayne Rooney and Angel di Maria on the first Sunday in January.

The biggest games of their lives will have to wait and the £200,000 windfall that would have come from a live FA Cup third round tie will go the Glovers way instead.

It was a cruel way to lose for a Stanley side who had given their all in Somerset, matching their League One opponents for much of the 90 minutes.

It was the hosts who started quickest though, Tom Eaves shooting high and wide after breaking free when Dean Winnard slipped on a pitch quickened up by the heavy rain falling throughout the game.

Disaster almost struck for Stanley on 11 minutes. Tom Aldred and Jack Rose convened on the same long ball, and Aldred headed it back past the onrushing keeper, only for the ball to roll inches wide of the post.

It was a lucky escape for the Reds.

The first good opening for Stanley came on the half hour when Marcus Carver pounced on Brendan Moloney’s weak back pass, but he couldn’t quite dribble round Jed Steer in the Yeovil goal.

A minute later Rose was called in to action to save Joseph Edwards’ angled drive, when the Glovers captain should have squared the ball with two men over in the box.

In a half of few chances Simon Gillet created one of his own for the hosts, letting a throw-in run across his body before sending a swerving half volley narrowly wide.

Stanley had struggled to get going until they strung a superb move together after 55 minutes. Josh Windass, Luke Joyce and Piero Mingoia were involved as the ball went left-to-right, before Dean Winnard’s cross fell to Andy Procter, who smashed a half volley a yard over from six yards, when he should have scored.

On 66 minutes the home side had a near identical chance, with Sam Foley smashing his effort over.

The game was getting more nervy as it went on, and Shay McCartan capitalised on a mix-up in the middle of the pitch to run at the Yeovil defence, but his 20-yard drive was turned round the post by Steer.

The Reds forward went close again with 12 minutes to go, sending a shot from the edge against the crossbar. Crooks headed the rebound wide with the goal gaping and it proved to be a crucial moment.

Yeovil broke the deadlock six minutes from time. Rose came to clear a deflected cross but his punch fell to Gillet who controlled the ball with more than a hint of handball and steered a shot into an empty net from 20 yards.

It was tough on Stanley and three minutes later the contest was ended once and for all, as Kiefer Moore headed home.