TWO spot kicks from Lutel James were enough to secure Accrington Stanley their fifth consecutive win and send them 11 points clear at the top of the UniBond Premier League.

The Reds hold a seemingly unassailable lead at the top of the league and look certainties for promotion to the Conference.

And they now seem to have cured their travel sickness - this was their second straight away win since not winning on their travels since September 7 previously.

James even enjoyed the luxury of being able to miss a third penalty kick - and Reds boss John Coleman said his side could even have had a fourth against a calamitous Runcorn.

Stanley pressed their opponents from the off as they had done the week before at Burscough, a game they won 1-0.

And on 19 minutes top scorer Paul Mullin was brought down by Runcorn keeper Tony McMillan and James stepped up to dispatch the spot kick - his 20th goal of the season.

Ten minutes before the break winger Rory Prendergast was brought down in the box but the referee waved away Stanley's appeals for a second penalty, but just a few moments later the same Runcorn player again upended Prendergast in the box and this time there was no hesitation from the ref as he pointed to the spot.

James again stepped up to coolly put the ball in the back of the net - and equal Mullin's 21 goals for the season in the process.

Ten minutes into the second half James won himself the chance of a hat-trick when he was brought down in the area, but his poor spot kick was saved by McMillan.

Runcorn felt they should have had a penalty also when Reds keeper Jamie Speare appeared to bring down their player manager Liam Watson in the box, but the referee said there had been no contact.

Manager John Coleman said: "It was another important three points and we have to keep picking them up," he said.

"There were no complaints from them about our penalties - I thought the one we didn't get was the most blatant of the lot.

"They'll feel they should have had a penalty though, they'll feel they were unlucky.

"But I was pleased with our performance, particularly in the first half when we took the game to them.

"That is something we haven't been doing, away from home especially, and it has paid dividends in the last two away games.

"We have been playing games in the opposition half and thankfully we have the players to do that.

"Our best form of defence is attack and we have now conceded just one goal in the last five games."

The Reds had been guilty of a few calamitous defensive errors of their own, especially away from home, this season. But in the past few games they have forced their opponents deep into their own half, cutting down the chances they give themselves to make mistakes.

The Reds were radio stars for the day on Saturday as Radio Five Live came to the Crown Ground to investigate the 'rising from the ashes' of the famous club. Don't worry if you missed it - you can listen by logging on to the Accrington Stanley website at www.accringtonstanley.co.uk.

RUNCORN...0 ACCRINGTON STANLEY...2