ACCRINGTON Stanley's set-piece routine worked again to make it eight consecutive wins in front of a record 1334 at the Crown Ground last night.

Just four minutes after the interval, Robbie Williams played his trademark free kick into the danger area.

There was tall defender Jonathan Smith to head the ball across the goal and in came Simon Carden to tuck home what turned out to be the winner.

"We will keep doing it until it stops working," joked manager John Coleman who admits teams might just be doing their homework on this one now as it has come off a couple of times already this season.

It was a great night for Stanley as the fans turned out in force.

Barrow, unbeaten in the league going into last night's game, brought around 400 but Stanley's crowd was their highest for a midweek league game since they reformed in the 1960s.

"That is fantastic because Blackburn were at home," said the manager. "It gives us a big lift if we have a good crowd and I hope they left happy - and come back again on Saturday!"

Stanley went behind again - they have developed something of a habit of giving the opposition an early advantage - when Chris Ward was on target for the Bluebirds in the 22nd minute.

Stanley had chances to draw level, the recalled Russell Payne being the main culprit as he squandered a couple of one-on-ones with the Barrow keeper. But the Reds made amends just before the interval when a Carden corner caused mayhem in the Barrow box and it was Mullin who got the final touch to poke the ball over the line.

It was the former Radcliffe man's fifth goal of the new campaign.

"I am glad he got that one as he missed an easier one before that so he made up for it," said Coleman.

Then, on 49 minutes, Payne was fouled just outside the area and up stepped the Stanley men to put their training ground routine into practice.

Accrington kept the pressure on for the next 20 minutes but Barrow then turned up the heat.

Most of the crowd were on the edge of their seats for the final 15 minutes as Barrow tried to force the equaliser and preserve their unbeaten run.

But once again the Reds defence held firm for their fifth 2-1 win this season

"It was just a bit stressful at the end," said Coleman. "It was hair-raising stuff but we had had enough chances early on.

"It was a cracking game, I can't believe we keep going 1-0 down but we got a quality goal back to go in at half time level."

But he admits he will have to keep his side's feet on the ground as they make a push for the Nationwide Conference.

"We can't get carried away though," he said. "We are just taking one each games as it comes. We have got to forget what we have done in the past and just approach each game the same.

"We weren't expecting to win all eight on the bounce but there has always been quality at the club and we never did ourselves justice in the last two seasons. This season it is time we did."

ACCRINGTON STANLEY...2

BARROW...1