JOHN Coleman was full of praise for his star man Simon Carden after a stunning performance helped Stanley chalk up their seventh win in eight games.

Midfielder Carden's tricky run took him past a number of Bamber Bridge players before he set up Paul Mullin for the first goal in a 2-0 UniBond Premier League win on Monday afternoon.

"I thought he was outstanding," praised the Reds chief of the former Stockport County trainee who has scored 21 goals himself this season. "You just have to stand back and watch some of the things he does.

"When he is like that he is hard to stop. He has a natural talent and we have only had to work on small things with him, like his positional play.

"He is always willing to learn though and is a good finisher."

While Carden got the main praise, Coleman was also delighted with Mullin's contribution this season.

The hitman smashed home two goals - in the 34th and 85th minute - in the victory over Bridge to take his tally to 29 goals this season.

"Paul has done well but by his own admission he should have had more this season. There have been a lot of chances.

"We couldn't kill off Bamber Bridge and we needed the second goal as there was always the chance that they would come back. We need to get the second goals earlier.

"That is what has happened in some of the games earlier this season when teams have come back.

"But then again there have been games which we have won at the death which perhaps we shouldn't have. They tend to even out and you can't look back."

And Coleman was also pleased with the performance of Steve Flitcroft who came back into the side after missing the 4-0 victory over Barrow on Saturday.

The midfielder, the brother of Ewood star Garry, sat out the trip to Barrow as the revelations about his brother's private life broke.

"We just changed things around and rested one or two players but Flickers came back in and I thought he did really well," said Coleman.

"He is the type of person who doesn't let things worry him, he is a confident person and he had a good game on Monday."

Stanley are putting in a storming finish to the season with their unbeaten run of eight games and they have two cup finals coming up - the FA Lancashire Marsden Cup against Barrow and the UniBond League Cup final against Bradford. Coleman thinks his side stand a good chance of glory.

"I think we are playing better now," said the Reds chief. "The players are more resilient, they are stronger, and we are starting to build towards next season.

"A good finish and at least one cup final win would then be a successful season. We have got to win at least one final though."

Coleman didn't sign anyone before the transfer deadline on Sunday but thinks his current squad will be okay until the end of the season - with perhaps additions in the summer.

"I think we have got strength in depth now although we do need competition all over the park.

"Robbie Williams is quite fresh as he hasn't played much this season as is Paul Burns and Steve Halford. I think we are getting there."

But that doesn't mean Coleman and his assistant Jimmy Bell will be part of the strength in depth.

The duo put themselves on the bench on Monday and came on for the final couple of minutes.

"I just thought I would give the crowd a laugh," he said. "And I didn't do too badly - I nearly scored with a free kick! But it was only a laugh."

Skipper Peter Cavanagh is expected to return for Saturday's home game against Hyde, Russell Payne should be back but Steve Hollis is still out with his knee injury.