IT WAS cruelly ironic that Accrington Stanley were playing at the McCain Stadium on Saturday, because the chips were certainly down for John Coleman's men.

It was a body blow when Scarborough took the lead as early as the fourth minute through a quick break, but nothing the Reds did not look capable of coming back from.

However, when that goal was turned into a 3-0 lead in the ensuing 11 minutes, Stanley didn't know where to turn.

Scarborough had felt the need to boost their firepower ahead of Saturday's game but attempts to bring in Darryn Stamp and Darryl Clare had failed.

But on the weekend's evidence, those plans can be shelved, although it's unlikley the Seadogs will be gifted many more goals like the ones Stanley offered them.

It was hard to imagine that it was the same back line that had thwarted Aldershot's livewire Aaron McLean so well the week before.

However, the defenders weren't the only culprits in a disappointing defeat.

Paul Mullin, Lee McEvilly, Ian Craney and Steve Jagielka all had good chances to give the visitors a kick start but failed, leaving Coleman furious at his side's finishing.

"I think wasteful does them an injustice in front of goal. It's embarrassing and you can't keep missing that many chances," the Stanley boss blasted.

"It's a recipe for disaster if you give goals away. And when the team gives you chances that you don't take, you're going to get beat every time you play."

But it was a lack of concentration at the back which ultimately led to their downfall.

Stanley had knocked the ball around well from the kick-off, looking for the right time to pick off a shot.

When Mike Flynn's long throw-in was cleared to midway inside the Reds' half, there didn't appear to be any danger as the ball dropped for Flynn once more.

But with Ged Brannan in close proximity, there was a mix-up between the two and Scarborough broke quickly down the right.

Chris Senior crossed into the box for strike partner Tony Hackworth, who burst ahead of Smith and had acres of space in which to bury the ball past Carl Ikeme.

Brannan had a shot blocked from Smith's lay-off as Stanley looked to get back on level terms. But Nick Henry's men ploughed forward once more.

This time Robbie Williams had Senior in check and won the ball. However, for reasons known only to himself, the referee saw fit to penalise him and award Scarborough a free kick just outside the area and Neil Redfearn demonstrated how he had already scored seven goals this season as his low strike nestled in the bottom left hand corner.

Stanley should have had the confidence in their own ability to pick themselves up, especially with more than 80 minutes remaining.

But when Kevin Nicholson got away from Williams to race unmarked into the box and stab home Hackworth's cross, it was game over after just 14 minutes.

A goal before half-time would surely have given Coleman's men a lifeline, but only Smith and McEvilly had decent chances - both with headers, while the Seadogs looked a constant threat.

It was a different story in the second half though, as Stanley dominated the opening exchanges.

McEvilly had his low drive blocked on the line from Jagielka's delivery, the rebound fell to Mullin but somehow the keeper recovered to claw it out.

After a break down the opposite flank, Craney's cross was knocked back from Brannan but his shot was also blocked.

Ikeme denied Hackworth a second as the Scarborough defence was allowed a brief respite before Stanley returned for more.

McEvilly fluffed a close range chance as the net opened up for him, then from two Brannan free kicks, Craney had a shot stopped on the line and then hooked the ball over from six yards.

Scarborough had three good chances to add a fourth, while the longer the game went on, the less likely Stanley looked set to score.

Senior gave the visitors a lesson in finishing as Redfearn broke down the right, fired in a centre, and the pint-sized predator slid in to seal the game.

The introduction of Paul Cook added spark and finesse in midfield for Stanley, but not the killer instinct they desperately needed.