ACCRINGTON Stanley's win 5-3 win on penalties at Fleetwood Town's Highbury Stadium was for Sean McConville according to Sam Finley.

McConville went under the knife on Tuesday to repair the ruptured Achilles he picked up in the loss to Rochdale on New Year's Day.

The game ended in a 2-2 draw as Ross Sykes scored an 89th minute equaliser to send it to penalties. The Reds were staring defeat in the face after after taking the lead in the first half and then being pegged back by two second half Fleetwood goals.

"I text him earlier on today, I don’t know whether he was on the operating table or not, but he hasn’t got back to me yet," said Finley. "The gaffer said it went well. The lads were saying that that win was for Sean and Jimmy Bell said It was too.

"I knew I had to step up and take a penalty because he would’ve done, so I’ve stuck it in the top corner for him."

Despite progressing to the quarter finals. the Reds weren't happy with their performance on the night and that is evident of the high standards the squad and the coaching staff keep.

"We’re happy to get through, but we’re a little bit disappointed with how we’ve played," added the midfielder.

"The gaffer’s come in and, rightly so, he’s said we’ve got to play better because he’s said there’s no one to be scared of in this league this season.

"These games, we’ve played a strong side and it was virtually our starting XI apart from Mark Hughes and Jordan Clark from the game before against Rochdale.

"We need to start playing a little bit better football and getting the ball down a little bit more.

"The conditions were tough, and I don’t think we helped ourselves with going too long in the wind and balls ran through for goal kicks.

"It’s a win at the end of the day, I thought we’d won it at the end with Erico De Sousa running through and hitting the bar.

"We’re made up to win it on penalties."

Finely stepped up to take the fifth and winning penalty, much like his idol Steven Gerrard would have done in that night May 2005 in Istanbul.

The midfielder gave credit to goalkeeper Joe Bursik after he scored the first penalty for Stanley, giving his team mates a great platform to build on.

"I’ve never taken one, to be honest, I hate them, and everyone was telling me I had to take one, so I told the gaffer I’d have one," Finley added after the game at Highbury.

"I did see my name down as number five and straight away I thought of Istanbul with Liverpool and Steven Gerrard was number five, so I was hoping it didn’t get to me and we win it on four, but it wasn’t to be and I stepped up and tucked it away.

"All of the penalties were quality, fair play to everyone who stepped up to take one.

"Joe Bursik does it everyday in training, both feet, he’s got two wands on him and he puts them in the corners everyday in training.

"Me, not so much, I don’t really go and take them, but I’ve stepped up here."