GOALKEEPER Jamie Speare has got his penalties worked out for tomorrow's UniBond League Cup semi-final - and that is just taking one!
The Accrington Stanley shot-stopper is keen to take a spotkick if the Reds and UniBond First Division side Trafford cannot be separated after 90 minutes and extra-time at the Crown Ground tomorrow.
So the one-time Everton trainee has got it sussed if it comes to sudden death.
"It is a lot easier taking a kick than saving them. I don't understand all these people who try to place them in the top corner. You just blast them, hit the target, and that is that.
"I am ready to take one and I'll just do my job in goal. Hopefully, though, it won't come down to that."
While Speare is confident at his end, it is the Stanley strikers who need to find the target after just two goals in their last five games.
While goals weren't a problem early on in the season, they have to an extent dried up with 25-goal scorer Paul Mullin having a six game drought and 20-goal hitman Lutel James going eight without finding the back of the net.
"When you look at our stats Paul, Lutel and Simon Carden have scored a lot of goals this season, around 80 between them," continued Speare. "Which is fantastic.
"But I think we have been unfortunate in recent games. Paul is an honest player, in fact at times he works too hard in areas he shouldn't be, but he just needs one to go in off his backside or anywhere - just a bit of luck in front of goal - and then hopefully it will start it all again.
"We also need to chip in from other areas as well."
There has been a dip in league form in recent weeks as Stanley have gone six games without a league victory.
But all that is forgotten as they bid to make their second final of the season - they are already in the last two of the Lancashire Marsden Trophy where they will face either Barrow or Clitheroe.
Stanley got through to tomorrow's semi by finishing top of their group and then defeated Emley in the quarter-finals.
"To be honest every game is a big game at the moment," said Speare. "We had a sniff of the title six or seven weeks ago but that has gone now. I think we are better than where we are and we should be in the top three or four but it is a tall order.
"But we have had a good run in the cups and it would be great if we could win them both.
"The Lancashire Trophy is great because Conference sides are involved and although the League Cup competition has been made a bit of a farce with the group stages and with the other two cups - the President's and the Chairman's Cups for the teams finishing lower down in the groups - this is the biggest competition for our league."
And he is pleased he will have a solid backline in front of him as, at the start of the season, the Reds were leaking goals at an alarming rate but have tightened up.
"Jonathan Smith and Peter Cavanagh have been great and Steve Halford, who has just come into the side, is a nice lad although you wouldn't think so sometimes when he is on the pitch!" said Speare.
"And Andy Proctor has come in and done well. I have only seen him in two games but he has great feet. He is just improving every game. I hope I haven't put the kiss of death on him now!"
Boss John Coleman is optimistic they can get a result against against Trafford - who have been something of a bogey team for him as a player and manager in the past.
"We are playing well at the moment it is just the results haven't been going for us," said the Reds boss. "But we are going in the right direction. The goals have dried up, not just from the forwards it is from everywhere but it is not for want of trying.
"It is just one of those things, we will probably score a fluke goal and then we will go on from there and goals won't be a problem."
And Coleman knows another final would be just what the doctor ordered after a disappointing league campaign by their standards.
"It is a chance to reward the fans and, for the players, it may give them some peace of mind as well. I don't think Accrington have been in a League Cup final so it would be nice to take them there."
And new signing striker Lee Buggie could play a part. "He rang us up, he used to be at Bury and Rochdale, he knows Lutel James and Steve Halford and decided to come down. He has come to us to get fitness but he looked good and had some nice touches. He is capable on the ball and could be a good acquisition."
Steve Flitcroft is a doubt with a calf strain while Simon Carden is suspended tomorrow.
IN the other semi-final, Matlock are at home to Bradford PA.
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