FINALLY Accrington Stanley are were they always felt they deserved to be.

After years of trying, they occupy a League Two play-off place at the business end of a season for the first time.

Victory over Southend, an eighth consecutive win at the Crown Ground, moved Stanley to sixth in the table with the aid of goals from Ian Craney, Terry Gornell and Phil Edwards.

The Reds have been in the top seven before, but only in the early stages of a campaign. Never when it really mattered.

They came close last season, but always stumbled when they were within striking distance of the play-off spots.

This time, they have incredibly climbed 13 places in the space of seven weeks, taking 30 points from a possible 39.

No wonder John Coleman has twice been nominated for manager of the month. He will find out if he is the winner of the March award on Friday.

Now Stanley’s task is not reaching the top seven but staying there, although even an automatic place is only three points away with six matches of the campaign left.

The Reds could draw level on points with third-placed Shrewsbury with a win at Macclesfield on Friday, although it would require a rather unlikely five-goal victo-ry to overhaul the Shropshire side’s current goal difference.

Stanley's final game in a hand was a match originally postponed 90 minutes before kick-off in February, with ticket prices reduced to £5 as a goodwill gesture as a result. A crowd of over 2,000 took up the offer.

The Reds started the brighter and needed only 10 minutes to move in front. Sean McCon-ville floated in a corner from the right and Craney, far from the tallest man on the field, rose to head home at the near post in rather unlikely fashion.

It was a third goal in four days and a seventh in 12 games for a midfielder who has played a pivotal part in Stanley's recent form.

The Reds were playing some superb football and Jimmy Ryan saw his 30-yard piledriver smashed off the top of the crossbar before Craney slid a shot narrowly wide of the far post when through.

The Reds perhaps merited more than the 1-0 half-time scoreline and could have increased their lead shortly after the interval when Morris denied McConville.

But Stanley were made to pay for not scoring a second as mid-table Southend claimeda surprise equaliser just before the hour mark, with Ryan Hall finding the bottom corner with a fine 25-yard free kick.

Stanley moved forward in an attempt to reclaim their lead and they hit the woodwork for a second time, with Joe Jacobson seeing his effort cannon back off the bar.

The decisive goal arrived 10 minutes from time when Southend failed to clear at the near post and Gornell pounced on the loose ball to fire home from close range.

Four minutes later and the game was over as Gornell streaked clear and was tripped in the area by Bilel Mohsni.

The French defender was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence, comically hurling the ball in the direction of the referee in disgust before leaving the field, and Edwards stepped up to send the keeper the wrong way from the spot.

Stanley: Alex Cisak; Dean Winnard, Phil Edwards, Sean Hessey, Joe Jacobson; Luke Joyce (Peter Murphy 89), Andy Procter; Sean McConville, Ian Craney (Charlie Barnett 88), Jimmy Ryan (Ray Putterill 90); Terry Gornell. Subs not used: Alex Cisak, Kevin Long, Craig Lindfield, Rory Boulding.

Southend: Glenn Morris; Sean Clohessy, Bilel Mohsni, Chris Barker, Luke Prosser; Miguel Comminges (Louie Soares 76), Anthony Grant, Kane Ferdinand, Ryan Hall; Kyle Asante (Blair Sturrock 69), Barry Corr. Subs not used: Graham Coughlan, Teddy Nesbitt, Alex Woodyard, George Smith.

Referee: David Webb.

Attendance: 2,222.