10:21pm Tuesday 16th March 2010
By Chris Flanagan
WITH 12 games to play last season, Accrington Stanley had just 30 points and were staring relegation in the face.
Tonight's victory over Rotherham, thanks to Jimmy Ryan's late winner, guided them to their highest Football League points tally in 52 years.
Stanley had never previously gone beyond 51 points since they were promoted to League Two in 2006. Now they have 53 and it is only mid-March.
More importantly, they are just two points off the play-off spots with two games in hand.
Stanley made two changes for a fixture originally postponed in January because of a waterlogged pitch, with Dean Bouzanis replacing the suspended Ian Dunbavin in goal and Ryan back in the starting line-up in place of Chris Turner.
The visitors had the first chance of the game when Kevin Ellison fired in a shot that Bouzanis had to tip over.
But at the other end Rotherham midfielder Danny Harrison came close to an own goal as he looped a header on to his own bar from a right-wing cross, before the same man blocked a fierce rebound effort from Jimmy Ryan.
Stanley were ahead in the 18th minute, though, as Ryan produced a low cross from the right that Michael Symes met at the near post to side-foot home with his left foot.
Andy Procter had a decent chance to make it 2-0 after half time when he found space in the penalty area but a combination of head and shoulder diverted a Luke Joyce free kick over the bar.
Seconds later, Josh Walker moved forward from midfield and fired a superb 25-yard effort into the Stanley net.
A moment of controversy followed as Adam Le Fondre's shot struck the post and, with the linesman's flag raised, McAllister tapped in. Referee and linesman consulted, but the goal was disallowed.
Bouzanis then had to make a fine block to deny Kevin Ellison's point-blank effort, while Le Fondre blazed over when clean through.
Stanley were fortunate to still be on level terms at that point but they regained the lead with 11 minutes remaining as left back Dean Winnard's fine run into the box led to him teeing up Ryan, whose low shot found the net from 15 yards.
It proved enough for victory as Stanley moved up to ninth in League Two, with home games against Rochdale and Burton to follow in the next week.
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