Three McEvilly

Relief, delight - the Accrington Stanley manager will have felt a whole range of emotions when the final whistle signalled their first win in over a month, and an emphatic one at that.

Hat-trick hero Lee McEvilly led the way with three well-worked goals. But it was an all-round impressive team performance that got the Reds back on the right track and re-set the benchmark for which they have to aim if they are to finish in the promotion shake-up at the end of the season.

As the only Conference game, while the majority of the league was embroiled in FA Cup first round weekend, Stanley took advantage of the chance to move from eighth to third in the table.

The capacity to make such a giant leap shows just how tight the top half of the table is and how vital it is to not fall by the wayside again this season, especially with the opportunity to scupper leaders Barnet's title bid on the horizon.

McEvilly scored his first hat-trick for over four years, but it was Steve Flitcroft who provided the catalyst for a revival with the fastest goal of the day.

The midfielder - a breath of fresh air since his inclusion in the side on the back of his loan spell at Barrow - stroked the ball past stranded goalkeeper Andy Ralph after just 90 seconds, making the most of Dennis Pearce's slip-up.

The left back lost the ball as Northwich were trying to clear their lines, Flitcroft snaffled possession and, with Ralph well off his line, showed no hesitation in planted the ball into an empty net.

The 23-year-old could have had a second seven minutes later had he connected with Ian Craney's cross from the byeline, while Jon McCarthy almost headed past his own keeper after Paul Mullin flicked on Mike Flynn's cross.

It wasn't until the half-hour that Northwich recorded their first real chance at goal, with Peter Handyside flashing a shot wide from Steve Garvey's right wing cross.

There was a moment of discontent for Stanley as Robbie Williams was harshly booked for his challenge on Jamie Hughes.

But the Reds were soon celebrating again as Flitcroft turned provider, threading a sublime ball through for McEvilly to run on to and caress into the bottom right hand corner.

Ten minutes into the second half, the duo combined once more as Flitcroft fed McEvilly to conjure an exquisite finish as he lifted a dipping shot across the keeper.

Northwich brought on former Scarborough striker Mark Quayle at the expense of Hughes on 63 minutes as the visitors looked to get back into the game.

But Stanley stopper Danny Alcock was still none the busier as McEvilly ran riot.

Flitcroft was denied a second by Ralph before Ged Brannan got in on the act.

The former Manchester City midfielder had been a handful for Vics all afternoon with his box-to-box missions and deservedly capped his energetic display with a wonder goal.

When Flynn's long throw was only half cleared, Brannan picked the ball up some 30 yards out, looked up to pick his spot and struck his shot to perfection.

In the meantime, all Alcock had been forced to worry about were a couple of Paul Brayson free kicks, which he had no problem in dealing with, while Stanley players were queuing up for chances at the opposite end.

Fittingly, it was McEvilly who had the final fling to complete his hat-trick with a powerful left-footed drive following Mullin's flick-on.

"The last 10 minutes was like having your favourite meal and your pudding afterwards with a nice bit of cream on top," Coleman grinned.

"You enjoy playing the football that they played in that period.

"The only disappointing thing for me is that I'm not out there doing it."

Such a merciless display will no doubt silence the critics, who suggested Stanley boss Coleman had perhaps served his time.

"I'm wise enough and I've played the game long enough to know that supporters only want success and if they're not getting it, they'll look for someone to blame. But I've got big shoulders," added Coleman after his side recorded their second consecutive clean sheet.

Crisis? What crisis?