STANLEY outplayed Altrincham for long periods of this UniBond Premier League fixture but came away from Moss Lane pointless.

They also played for 50 minutes without a recognised striker when firstly flu victim Lutel James cried off before the kick off, then Paul Mullin went off injured after 40 minutes.

Altrincham goalkeeper Stuart Coburn was in excellent form saving a powerful 30-yard free kick from centre half Steve Hollis which he did well to push over the bar for a corner.

He then saved a certain goal from Simon Carden after the Stanley midfielder rounded centre half Mark Sertori. Carden shot to the goalkeeper's left, Coburn diving full length to save the goal-bound effort.

The Altrincham goalkeeper then spilled a stinging shot from Steve Flitcroft but recovered well diving to retrieve the ball at the feet of Mullin.

On 26 minutes and against the run of play, right back Gary Scott broke into the Stanley penalty area from the right hitting an unstoppable shot that went in the net via the crossbar to give the home side a 1-0 advantage.This was their first attack of any consequence.

Stanley pressed for an equaliser and Stanley's Mullin and Carden worked the ball into the Altrincham penalty area but former Bury man Sertori dispossessed the midfielder before he could get a shot in on goal.

Altrincham's second goal came on 37 minutes when Coburn found another former Bury striker Kevin Hulme 30 yards from goal in the middle of the pitch.

He played the ball to his right finding Danny Murphy who crossed to the far post for Thornley to finish from inside the six-yard box.

Gareth Strange replaced the injured Mullin on 40 minutes immediately going to right back with Paul Haworth pushed up front as a makeshift striker.

Within two minutes of the second half starting Stanley lost Steve Hollis to injury replaced by Anthony Bowden on 46 minutes and Altrincham's Thornley got his second and Altrincham's third goal.

The striker stole into the area from the right firing a low shot into the bottom left hand corner of the net across the body of Stanley goalkeeperJamie Speare.

Stanley battled back well and showed a great deal of character . The Reds reduced the deficit on 56 minutes when a Carden through ball found Bowden on the left and the young substitute cut in and coolly slotted the ball past Coburn.

Haworth headed wide of the post from a Flitcroft corner then the former Rovers man was only inches wide of the target with a 25-yard free kick.

Stanley had a lot of possession in the second half without being able to reduce the deficit further.

RESULT: ALTRINCHAM...3 ACCRINGTON STANLEY...1