Payne steals the Reds show

A VASTLY improved performance saw Accrington Stanley record their first UniBond Premier League win since November 18.

Manager John Coleman made four changes to the side beaten at Stalybridge Celtic on Saturday and on a rain-soaked pitch the Reds swept into the lead with a 13th minute penalty.

Russell Payne was brought down in the penalty area and Mark Ceraolo blasted the spotkick past Gateshead goalkeeper Adrian Swan.

Man of the match Payne scored a superb second goal after 29 minutes, a long ball by Simon Carden found Ceraolo who laid the ball off to Payne who hit a thunderbolt shot into the top corner of the net.

The visitors came close to pulling a goal back two minutes later as player-manager Paul Proudlock created an opening for Steve Preen, whose shot on the turn was well saved by Jamie Speare.

On 37 minutes good work by Gary Williams on the left saw him beat two defenders, play the ball to Steve Hollis whose dangerous cross was met by Ceraolo and his header was saved by Swan.

Stanley continued their domination after the break, Paul Mullin going past two defenders and having a shot turned away by Swan on 59 minutes. Five minutes later Ceraolo created an opening for Brett Baxter but his fiercely struck shot was brilliantly saved by Swan.

A lapse in concentration allowed Gateshead back into the game on 76 minutes as a poor clearance by Speare fell to Preen, who beat Robbie Williams and slipped the ball under Speare into the net.

Accrington quickly restored their two goal advantage three minutes later when a strong run and good pass by Payne set up Williams who blased the ball past Swan for his first goal at the Crown Ground since re-joining Stanley.

Coleman was delighted, and more than a little relieved after so long without a league win: "It has been a long time coming and the lads are delighted.

"We haven't had the luck over the last couple of months and maybe we rode our luck a little bit last night.

"The conditions were difficult, it was windy, raining, the pitch was heavy but we tried to get the ball down.

"The penalty really set us up and even thought they scored at 2-0 we held on.

"They're a good side but the lads had the bit between their teeth because they realise they have let themselves down a little bit but the fans have been fantastic with them. They felt they owed them something."