TWO spectacular goals in the opening quarter were enough to put Stanley's promotion hopes back on track.

On a day when the club received the first division team of the month award for January, Stanley took the lead against lowly Flixton after only seven minutes.

A cross from the left by Steve Hollis was headed on to John Doolan and he scored only his second goal for the Reds with an acrobatic overhead kick that left keeper Keith Neild stranded.

Stanley nearly scored again five minutes later when Russell Payne found Mark Shirley, who laid the ball back to Brett Baxter, but his shot was straight at Neild.

The Reds increased their lead a minute later as John Coleman's cross was met by Mark Ceraolo who turned and volleyed for his 15th goal of the campaign.

Flixton then came more into the game and six minutes before the break Jamie Speare turned a John Butterworth shot round the post. But in the last minute of the half Stanley had a free kick 22 yards out which Coleman fired straight at Neild.

Accrington again had the better of the second half and after an hour Steve Caswell floated over a free kick but Coleman's flicked header was saved.

The Reds' best opportunity of the second half came on 66 minutes. Ceraolo crossed to Coleman, who headed the ball down to Doolan in the six yard box but he shot over.

New signing Gerald Courtney replaced Coleman in the final quarter and he showed some neat touches. Six minutes from time he played a one-two with Doolan and hit a shot from 20 yards that was deflected wide.

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