PAUL Mullin fired home his 14th goal of the campaign - but a miss that would have given Stanley a 3-0 cushion was something that was preying on his mind.

The striker had taken the ball around Burscough keeper Matt Taylor and the goal was gaping but somehow he pushed it too far and it went wide of the open goal.

"I thought the keeper did really well and there was a bobble as well," laughed the 27-year-old who didn't want to dwell on it for too long!

But he did score the opener with Jonathan Smith grabbing his second goal of the season as UniBond Premier side Stanley secured their second win in the UniBond Challenge Cup group stages.

They have now defeated Marine and Burscough - but lost to Chorley - and have First Division Rossendale and Radcliffe to play in the final Group Four games.

They are currently joint top with Burscough and Chorley who have all won two games.

The Reds will be eyeing the top spot as the winner of the group will go into the quarter-final of the prestigious League Challenge Cup, the second team will go into the President's Cup while the team which finishes third will take part in the last eight of the Chairman's Cup.

Manager John Coleman gave a run out to youngsters Gareth Strange, the former Manchester United trainee, and ex-Burnley youth player Anthony Bowden and later introduced Reds youth team player Steve McDonald.

Out injured were skipper Jay Flannery, Russell Payne and Robbie Williams while midfielder Simon Carden missed the game through suspension.

A victory was needed by the Reds following last week's 3-1 loss to table toppers Burton Albion and ahead of Saturday's home league game against Bishop Auckland - who lie one place above Stanley in ninth place in the league.

And they got just that although there were a few scares after the home side seemed to be cruising. Lutel James hit the side of the post in the early stages, Paul Burns shot wide but it was a move from the back which opened the scoring.

David Robinson played a ball out of defence to Mullin, he in turned set James off on a run on the right wing. The former Bury striker got to the by-line, put in a great cross which Paul Burns jumped for with two defenders, and it fell to Mullin who struck the ball home in the 24th minute.

And it was 2-0 three minutes later when a Burns corner fell to Mark Brennan in the 18 yard box and he passed to defender Smith waiting at the far post who fired the ball into the net from six yards out.

At this point Stanley were in charge and it seemed a case of how many they would score.

But fellow UniBond Premier outfit Burscough were made of stronger stuff and came back well putting the Reds defence under pressure.

Jamie Speare pulled off a superb double save to deny Marvin Molyneux and Dave Dugdale going into the interval and after the break denied John Lawless.

Then came Mullin's miss on 54 minutes. Burns sent Mullin racing free and he charged into the area and took the ball around the outcoming Taylor with the goal gaping. It looked like he may be able to fire the ball home although the angle was tight but it just ran too far and went out for a goalkick as the frontman held his head in his hands.

3-0 and Stanley would have been cruising but the Liverpool side seemed to take heart and were back in it on 67 minutes when Lee McEuilly got on the end if a looping ball - with Stanley appealing for off-side - and beat Speare.

There was a few hair-raising moments at the end for the Reds although James was disappointed he couldn't have finished it off with a penalty when, after charging through, he seemed to be felled by Ryan Bowden in the area.

Manager John Coleman came on for the last ten minutes and showed he still had the touch but a win and another run out looks like it will stand Stanley in good stead going into the Bishop Auckland match.

RESULT: ACCRINGTON STANLEY...2 BURSCOUGH...1