The old cliché that football is a game of two halves was once again shown to be true on Friday night.

At 2-0 up from the first half I was in football heaven. However we did not adjust well to Scunthorpe’s change of tactics at half-time and the Iron winner in injury time sent me to into the football doldrums.

Let’s not forget Scunthorpe are second in the league on merit, they are a good footballing side with bags of commitment and skill, but we should be able to hold onto a two goal lead at home.

James Beattie and the lads have continued to learn through the season and while Friday night will be a tough lesson for them all I dare say we will be a tougher side to beat from now on.

That brings me nicely to tonight’s rearranged Lancashire derby with Bury.

They currently sit one point below us in the league but with a game in hand.

The test will once again be tough for Stanley but if we can play the kind of attacking free flowing football witnessed in the first half on Friday night and keep it tight at the back we should triumph over our Red Rose neighbours.