One last push to safety for Stanley

FOUR points from the Easter double-header has all but assured Accrington Stanley's League Two survival - now John Doolan is calling on his players to cross the finish line in decisive manner.

- RICHARD PARTINGTON

A 2-1 Good Friday victory at Salford City kicked the long weekend off on a perfect note and it looked like the Reds would seal the deal on Easter Monday/

They led Carlisle United at the Wham Stadium courtesy of a Sonny Aljofree goal heading into time added on. A win would have been enough to confirm safety -however, they shipped a last-gasp equaliser to leave Doolan feeling slightly flat.

Still, Stanley are six points clear of the drop zone with two games to play and have a ten-goal advantage over Monday's opponents Carlisle United, the only side who could still - mathematically - catch them.

The Reds take on promotion hopefuls Walsall tomorrow before a home game against a Chesterfield side who may still harbour hopes of finishing among the play-off contenders.

"It feels like we've lost a couple of points, I thought the size of the game, the consequences, the outcome of it all, it showed," admitted Doolan after Monday's 1-1 draw.

"The short space of time we had to work with them and recover from the Friday game to a Monday game showed on some of our players, especially in the first half."

Carlisle went into the game on the back of three straight wins and Doolan was relieved to get to the interval on level terms after a poor showing in the opening 45 minutes from his team.