ACCRINGTON Stanley edged into the second round of the FA Umbro Trophy after an epic nine-goal thriller at the Crown Ground last night.

In a night of high drama, the Reds threw away a 4-1 lead but survived a nailbiting finish to set up a home tie against Spalding United.

Stanley started the goal feast after only 50 seconds when Gary Williams beat several defenders in an electrifying run down the right before crossing for player/manager John Coleman to net his fifth goal of the season.

Brett Baxter increased the Reds' lead on 18 minutes with a real thunderbolt which dipped over goalkeeper Mark Statham.

But Leek pulled a goal back within a minute when Paul Kiely had a shot parried by Jamie Speare and Danny Hobby scored from the rebound.

Steve Hollis restored Stanley's two goal advantage after 31 minutes with a curling 25 yard free kick.

And Stanley supporters could hardly believe it nine minutes later when Steve Carragher gave keeper Statham no chance with a ferocious 25 yarder to make it 4-1.

But defensive errors allowed Leek back into the match with two goals in as many minutes just before half time.

Hobby latched on to a lapse of concentration in the Stanley defence to slide the ball past Speare and then a minute later good work by Kiely set up the unmarked Aidan Callan for his side's third.

There was no let up in the second half as Jonathan Smith had a header cleared off the Leek goal line by Stuart Leicester in the 63rd minute. And barely 60 seconds later Hobby was denied his hat trick by the cross bar as his 20 yard drive crashed against the woodwork.

Mark Shirley then struck the crossbar before he made it 5-3 on 77 minutes, heading past Statham from Carragher's deep cross.

But in a frantic finale, Scott Dundass was denied by both Speare and the crossbar before he finally scored on 84 minutes.

Stanley held on though - but only just.

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