Stanley boss John Coleman pleased with FA Cup progress

Accrington overcame Colchester United 1-0 in the first round at the Wham Stadium on Saturday courtesy of a Dan Barlaser strike.

• MATCH REPORT: Stanley 1 Colchester 0

It was a game lacking in real quality but the home side did enough to negotiate a tricky tie against a side flying high in League Two.

Indeed the visitors began brightly and created a number of chances in the opening 15 minutes but once Stanley got a foothold in the contest they were the more likely winners.

Coleman said: “Colchester have been riding high and you can see why, they had a great chance early on and maybe we were guilty of giving the ball away.

“A lot of it was our own making, giving the ball away in silly areas.

“But once we settled into our game we played some good stuff and scored a good goal and maybe could have scored a few more.

“You are always nervy at 1-0 and I think that we just have to be more clinical in front of goal. We played some good stuff with some good approach play but we are just not taking the chances we are making and on another day that will come back and haunt you.”

“But you are glad to get it out of the way and hopefully we will get a favourable draw in the next round.”

The Reds, who banked £36,000 in prizemoney from the win over Colchester, will be ball number 25 in Monday night’s second round draw (7pm) but Coleman is not too bothered who Stanley pull out of the velvet bag.

“No preferences, we just want to try and win and get a few bob coming through the till so we can maybe use that to strengthen in January,” Coleman added.

“It is good for the club, it is difficult on gates like today so that is a welcome boost.”