ACCRINGTON continued their winning start to the new year by taking three points at lowly Trafford, but ended the game with only ten men after Mark Brennan was sent off two minutes from the end.

Trafford had an early scoring chance on 11 minutes when Chris Patterson was put clear in the penalty area but Jamie Speare came off his line quickly to make a good save.

Stanley then took control of the match and went in front after 17 minutes when Mark Ceraolo went down the right and pulled the ball back to Mark Shirley, who had time to pick his spot and fire the ball past Gary Stones.

On 23 minutes, the Reds increased their lead after they were awarded a free kick when former Stanley defender Darren Quick elbowed Gary Williams. Shirley's in-swinging free kick was flicked on by Karl Bell and Stones was unable to hold on and allowed Bell to score his first goal for Stanley.

The Reds' third goal came a minute before the break when Russell Payne made a good run down the right wing and his low cross was turned into his own net by Trafford centre half Billy McCartney, the ball going in off the post.

Trafford pulled a goal back on 79 minutes when David Lowe crossed to the unmarked Patterson who headed the ball beyond Speare. Within a minute though Stanley had restored their three-goal advantage, Payne made another superb run down the right wing and his low cross to the far post was met by Williams, who slid in to score from close range - his 21st goal of the season.

A minute from time Trafford scored a second goal when substitute Barry Massey hit a shot that was deflected into the net.

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