A LATE goal from Lutel James secured Accrington Stanley's first UniBond Premier League win for six games at the Crown Ground last night.

John Coleman's side couldn't find a way past the Gateshead defence in the first half but went ahead through Paul Mullin after a good spell early in the second.

They lost their way after Gateshead equalised with 20 minutes to go but in injury time James hit the winner.

Stanley were virtually camped out in the Gateshead half in the first half of the game but the visitors' defence held strong.

In the first minute, centre half Jonathan Smith powered a header goalwards but it was cleared off a defender's legs and scrambled away.

And just a minute a later Steve Halford and Mark Brennan were involved in a good move playing the ball out of defence but Halford's cross was too near to the keeper.

Then on six minutes Stanley should have taken the lead when skipper Peter Cavanagh took a throw in at the halfway line to the feet of James, who back heeled it to Brennan. Brennan found Mullin on the right but his shot was wide and high of the right hand post.

And Stanley had another perfect opportunity to take the lead on the quarter hour when a Barrie Hart free kick found the head of the again impressive Smith but his header was cleared off the line.

Gateshead struggled to get out of their own half but had a chance in the 19th minute, but keeper Jamie Speare saved easily from a David Kitchen shot.

And five minutes later Stanley were under pressure from a Colin McKenzie cross but Brennan, who battled tirelessly all night, cleared the danger.

On the half hour Stanley were on the attack again when a Cavanagh free kick was punched away by the keeper on to the head of Smith but his effort was cleared.

The clearest chance of the first half fell to Gateshead who almost went ahead through Alex Lawson - who was later taken to hospital after being stretchered off - whose shot from close range beat Speare only for former Liverpool trainee Cavanagh to clear off the line.

And Speare had to palm the ball onto his own crossbar in the 40th minute when a corner from Rob Painter looked to be heading straight in.

Stanley came out for the second half looking more focused and their direct style paid off nine minutes after the break when a good cross-field ball from James found Cavanagh down the right.

Sub Gary Williams made the run but dummied Cavanagh's cross and Mullin was there unmarked at the back post to scramble home.

And Brennan had the ball in the back of the net four minutes later but the effort was ruled offside.

Simon Carden fired a shot inches wide on 64 minutes and Stanley looked well on top.

But a lack of concentration from a free kick let Gateshead back in it when Rob Jones headed home on 71 minutes.

Stanley then lost their shape and had few more chances until, with the clock showing 90 minutes - just seconds after the referee had indicated five minutes of added time due to numerous injuries and bookings - James latched on to a long ball to fire home from the edge of the area.

ACCRINGTON STANLEY...2 GATESHEAD...1