AND Chelsea thought they'd been involved in an exciting game.

Accrington Stanley's northern section semi-final of the GLS Conference Cup might may not have been as prestigious as the Champions League in terms of world football, but extending their unbeaten run to 10 games will mean a huge amount to the Reds.

The players' strength of character again came to the fore as they recovered from an early two-goal deficit to win the game, and manager John Coleman hailed goalkeeper Danny Alcock as one of the unlikely instigators of their comeback.

After Chris Gahgan took advantage of some poor defending to fire Northwich in front after just 58 seconds, Alcock slipped up --literally -- and former Scarborough striker Mark Quayle stole the ball off him and buried it into an empty net.

Eleven minutes later, he redeemed himself, and Stanley, as they went on to get the all-import to kick-start them for the rest of the game courtesy of Lee McEvilly.

"Once we got to half-time at 2-1 I knew we would win because of how much play we were having in their half," said Coleman.

"We were caught cold, not for the first time this season."

But Stanley turned up the heat in the second half after being left shell-shocked early in the game.

It was as if the players were still stuck in the dressing room when Gahgan opened the scoring less than a minute into the game. After twice exchanging passes with Paul Brayson -- both times unchallenge -- he was gifted the chance to turn the ball into an exposed net.

McEvilly teed up midfielder Ged Brannan for a decent long range shot that goalkeeper Andy Ralph stopped.

But Stanley were further on the back foot on 11 minutes as, lining up a simple clearance, Alcock slipped and couldn't get back on his feet in time to prevent Quayle from snapping up possession and hammering it into the centre of the net.

The Reds always looked capable of getting themselves back into the game though, and when Alcock tipped over Quayle's free header from Michael Byrne's wicked centre, it seemed to spur them on at the opposite end.

They pulled a goal back with McEvilly's precise finish after Steve Flitcroft, then Paul Mullin, were denied by Ralph's parries seven minutes before the break.

The introduction of Rory Prendergast to the left wing proved another turning point as, with loan signing Matt O'Neill looking equally capable as he switched to the right, Stanley used the width of the pitch to their advantage.

McEvilly struck for a second time after driving home Brannan's through ball. Ralph got a touch to his shot, but it wasn't enough to prevent the ball from crossing the line.

Stanley deservedly got in front after Prendergast's dangerous deliveries continued to put Vics under further pressure. And it was the wily winger who provided Mullin with the chance to stab the ball beyond Ralph to go in front.

O'Neill then capped a sparkling display as he left the goalkeeper on his backside on the edge of the box and took on three defenders before firing a left-footed strike into the top corner.

Both sides made changes, with Northwich making a double substitution to try to at least force extra time.

They almost succeeded as third substitute John Allan drove a low shot beyond the dive of Alcock.

But Stanley were too stubborn to let the game slip away and now face Morecamber or the winners of Worksop v Stalybridge Celtic in the northern section final.

STANLEY: Alcock; Cavanagh, Flynn, Williams, Butler; Flitcroft (Prendergast 53), Craney, Brannan (Cook 79), O'Neill; Mullin (Howarth 82), McEvilly. Subs not used: Kennedy, Smith.

NORTHWICH: Ralph; Royle (McCarthy 80), Foran, Charnock, Munro; Garvey, Byrne (Allan 80), Carr; Brayson (Devlin 62), Quayle, Gahgan. Subs not used: Connett, Mayman.

GOALS -- STANLEY: McEvilly 38, 59; Mullin 74; O'Neill 77. NORTHWICH: Gahgan 1, Quayle 11, Allan 84.

ATT 304.