ACCRINGTON STANLEY stay third in the UniBond Premier League after a 3-1 win at Hucknall, whose lowly position belied their work rate and effort.

In fact the Reds had to work very hard for their three points and that was achieved by another excellent all round team performance.

Simon Carden, the midfielder who has found his scoring boots in recent weeks, hit two and former Liverpool trainee Peter Cavanagh got the other.

Hucknall made the better start attacking straight from the kick off. Front man Paul Tomlinson combined well down the left with left back Nathan Hollingworth crossing, but the ball ran loose and Stanley full back Barrie Hart cleared upfield with ease.

Hucknall's new player manager Phil Starbuck, the former Blackburn man, was soon in action, heading on an excellent cross from right back Danny Mayman that Stanley's Jamie Speare had to be on his toes to catch.

Stanley centre back Steve Hollis hit a long ball forward to Jonathan Smith who helped the ball on from the edge of the penalty area from midfield player David Robinson to bring a fingertip save out of James Mason from his powerful headed effort.

Stanley's opener came on 20 minutes when former Radcliffe man Carden arrived at the back post to tap home a cross from Paul Mullin.

Hart played a pinpoint pass from the left back position to the right of the six yard box, finding front man Mullin. He turned and played the ball to the back post where the waiting Carden scored from close range to give Stanley the lead.

On the half hour mark Hucknall's Paul Tomlinson fired just wide of the post and Gary Ricketts then headed just over the bar.

Stanley, though, doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time through Cavanagh, whose free kick found its way past goalkeeper James Mason, although Hucknall defender Steve Prinderville may have got the last touch.

Hucknall pushed forward again, Speare tipping a Prinderville shot from 25 yards round the post, but then a brilliant five man passing movement by Stanley ended with Brennan's snap shot just skimming the top of the bar from 20 yards.

The best goal of the game came when Hart played the ball back to Hollis on the left and he hit a 50 yard ball to Carden who ran at the advancing Mason and coolly chipped the ball over the Hucknall goalkeeper into an empty net to put Stanley 3-0 up on the hour.

Mark Harbottle and Jermaine Liburd replaced Miller and Tomlinson as Hucknall continued to give maximum effort. Paul Challinor then replaced Ricketts as the home side pushed Stanley on to the back foot in the last 20 minutes. Hucknall scored a consolation on 90 minutes when the Starbuck fired a harmless looking shot which found its way past Jamie Speare in the Stanley net.

HUCKNALL...1 ACCRINGTON STANLEY...3