Charlie Caton's brace powered Accrington Stanley to a 3-2 victory over Crawley Town in a lively League Two encounter. The home side survived a late fightback to secure all three points at the Wham Stadium. bbc.co.uk first reported the story.
How did the match unfold?
Accrington Stanley started at a ferocious pace. Charlie Caton put them ahead after just four minutes, giving the hosts an early advantage they would not relinquish. Crawley Town responded well and found an equaliser through Danilo Orsi in the 20th minute. The game remained finely balanced until the second half, when Accrington reasserted their control.
Liam Coyle provided the assist for Caton to grab his second goal of the afternoon in the 55th minute, restoring the lead. The momentum swung decisively in Accrington's favour eight minutes later. Josh Woods set up Devon Matthews, who found the net to make it 3-1. Crawley refused to surrender and hit the crossbar through Ade Adeyemo in the 75th minute before pulling a goal back. Kellan Gordon assisted Pemi Aderoju's strike in the 79th minute, setting up a tense finale where the visitors pressed for an equaliser that never came.
What does this mean for Charlie Caton's season?
The two goals took Charlie Caton's tally to four for the season, making him a key figure in Accrington's attack. "Scored a double to take his tally to four for the season," the striker said after the match, confirming his sharp form in front of goal. His early opener set the tone for a performance where Accrington's attacking play ultimately proved decisive. This result provides a positive platform as the club looks to improve on its final 16th-place finish in the 2025 League Two table, where they ended with 53 points from 46 games.
Where does Accrington Stanley stand now?
This win offers encouragement for Accrington Stanley as they build towards the new campaign. The club concluded the previous season with a record of 14 wins, 11 draws and 21 losses, scoring 47 goals but conceding 58 for a -11 goal difference. Their recent form at the end of that season was a concern, shown by a run of LDDLL. The full standings from that campaign show they finished 34 points behind champions Bromley. Building a more resilient defence will be a priority, as evidenced by the two goals conceded in this match, and fans can track the squad's progress via the official squad list.
What comes next for the team?
Securing a win in this fashion, especially after conceding a late goal, provides a psychological boost. The team demonstrated they can score goals and dig in to see out a result under pressure. Manager John Coleman will want to build on this performance, focusing on converting chances and managing games more effectively in the final stages. The next steps involve preparing for upcoming friendlies and the new league season, with all future dates available on the club's fixtures page. The match report was supplied by PA Media.
