Interim Tranmere manager Andy Crosby believes Omari Patrick’s dramatic stoppage-time equaliser in the 3-3 draw at relegation rivals Accrington could be a ‘huge point for the future of the football club’.
Stanley, who sit in 22nd place, raced into a 3-0 lead with Ben Woods blasting home after just 43 seconds before Tyler Walton’s header on 24 minutes.
Josh Woods then stroked the ball into an empty net on 42 minutes to put Stanley in complete control.
However, Patrick curled home a 30-yard free kick on 78 minutes to get Rovers back in it before Kristian Dennis rifled a strike into the top of the net for another wonder goal with three minutes remaining.
Then, in the final minute of 11 added on, Patrick got the ball on the edge of the box and scored a stunning equaliser to keep Rovers in 21st place.
Crosby said: “It was two different sides in the first and second half.
“We didn’t compete in the first half, I don’t think we could have possibly done any worse and we were lucky we were only 3-0 down at half-time.
“I questioned a lot of things at half-time of the group, it was a very angry dressing room, and the response in the second half shut me up.
“We have got really good players in the final third, it’s about getting them on the ball and all three goals are brilliant individual finishes.
“Anything I questioned about the group in the first half, they responded in the second half.
“I think the 11 minutes was justified and we produced that last moment.
“The players should be proud of that second-half performance.
“We got the point and that could be a huge point for the future of the football club.”
Stanley boss John Doolan was gutted to see vital points slip away.
He said: “The second half wasn’t good enough.
“They were three world-class goals but we gave a silly free-kick away and we can’t give players like Kristian Dennis time and space to put the ball where they want.
“Then it’s another worldy at the end. I don’t know where they are getting 11 minutes from, there is no way that should have been played.
“But we should have defended all three better.
“The performance in the first half was really good, the goals were really good, and we knew what to expect and they have made changes and their bench has had an impact.
“I am a glass-half-full person and, at this stage of the season, you have to take the positives out of it.
“Everyone is on the floor in our dressing room and we have to pick them up as we have to get ourselves over the line.”
