Lots of positives to take out of yesterday's game despite the pitch.
The back four looked very solid with Proccy (who did a good job on Morgan with their aerial balls) and Barnett in front of them. The fact that Aldershot had only four shots (just one on target) in the whole match -
Sporting Life - Football Live - shows how solid the team was defensively.
The three attacking midfielders looked good and had the pitch not been no soft and lifeless, we could have seen a lot more fast, moving Stanley play. As it was, it was difficult to get going on it and the match ground to a stalemate at times.
Two issues for me. Even though Dunbavin impressed in the one time he was called into action when Phil inexplicably stopped when ahead of Morgan in the penalty area, his kicking was more reminiscent of a fly-half kicking for touch.
The other was the amount of balls played to Boulding in the air, particularly in the first half. He won lots of flick-ons, but there was no-one to flick on to! Admittedly the pitch lent itself to the long ball - and that's all the Aldershot offered - but Boulding needed better service. He did look a little light-weight against two big central defenders and he could certainly work on that department, but he did take his 'offside' goal well and linked up well with the midfielders in the second half.
On yesterday's performance and that of the pre-season friendlies, I can't see anything to suggest that we will be struggling near the foot of the league table this year.