"WE always win on the telly!"

The Stanley fans' closing chant was technically incorrect, following televised defeats at Aldershot and Colchester last season.

But who cares?

They were just happy to celebrate a return to winning ways after Paul Mullin sealed it late with his second of the night, while another spell in the spotlight brought back happy memories.

The last time the cameras dropped anchor at the Interlink Express Stadium, they got the blockbuster they hoped for as the Reds produced their second FA Cup scalp by beating Bournemouth, after seeing off Huddersfield in the first round.

But last night's game, hand-picked by Sky Sports as their live Conference fixture, wasn't like the FA Cup showcases of last term.

Back then, Stanley had nothing to lose and everything to gain. This time the situation was very different.

With only one point from their last four outings, the Reds required a win against a side in form on their travels to keep pace with the promotion pack.

Manager John Coleman rang the changes, restoring Lutel James to the starting line-up to make a three-pronged attack, Jonathan Smith was given the nod after coming off the bench to impress last week, while goalkeeper Danny Alcock was handed his Conference debut after Jon Kennedy suffered a broken leg in training.

And just as the Reds came up trumps with their two cup upsets last season, Coleman's men delivered the goods to boost their league position against promotion rivals Hereford.

Stanley didn't have any trouble in playing up to the occasion.

No sooner had the curtain been raised on the game than Mullin got the home side off to a dream start.

Mike Flynn's mammoth throw-in has proved to be as useful as a corner since he signed last month from Blackpool.

And Hereford quickly got a taste of the damage the central defender can do when he launched the ball into the heart of the goalmouth.

Lee McEvilly controlled it well and spun round only to see his shot well saved by Jonathon Gould. But when the ball squirmed away from the loanee Preston stopper, Mullin showed great determination in stabbing it home at the second attempt.

Alcock got confidence from his first touch, diving to superbly tip David Brown's goalbound header away with less than three minutes on the clock.

Stanley went on to produce some penetrating football with good passing and movement through midfield. McEvilly sent waves of fear through right back Ryan Green, while Mullin, Ian Craney and Smith all went close after good openings were carved out. But when a second goal wasn't forthcoming, Hereford saw the chance to grab a lifeline.

It was Green who instigated the impressive move, finding Lee Mills with a long ball down the right wing. The striker drew defenders in before releasing Danny Williams to feed Brown. And it seemed inevitable that, with gaps in the rearguard appearing, he would nestle the ball in the bottom left hand corner.

While James had a shot charged down on the stroke of half-time, with McEvilly and Smith failing to make the most of the loose ball, Stanley would have been happy to go into the break level after early scares from Williams and Rob Purdie.

The Bulls created pressure at the start of the second half but the defence held firm and the Reds threatened to strike on the break.

Smith should have added a second just after the hour from a teasing Steve Jagielka corner, but his downwards header dropped just wide. Seconds later, James set up Craney but his effort was palmed round the post.

On another Craney counter attack, this time when a Hereford free kick broke down, the midfielder rampaged forward but missed the target as he tried to toe-poke the ball past former Scotland stopper Gould.

Coleman freshened things up with three changes between 59 and 80 minutes, while his opposite number, Graham Turner, had made only one substitution in that time.

Striker Brown continued to look lively for the Bulls and caused a scare when his 18-yard drive whistled narrowly wide of Alcock's right hand post. But Stanley were reaping the benefits of the energy their extra substitutions created.

They again broke quickly and James threaded the ball through for Craney to test Gould once more. The stopper thwarted him but could only parry his shot into Mullin's path, and this time the striker didn't need a second invitation to slot the ball into an empty net three minutes from time.

There was still some defending to do as the clock counted down. And Paul Howarth was up to the task as he made a vital challenge on Danny Carey-Betram inside the area at the death.

"We always win on the telly" wasn't a bad mantra to warm the Stanley faithful, but Coleman will hope that the winning habit will be repeated long after the cameras have stopped rolling.

Final Score: Stanley 2-1 Hereford