ACCRINGTON Stanley sent Grays Athletic's chance to set a new Conference record crashing down around their ears, then celebrated as if they had won the league.

They may be premature, but if Saturday's tempo and level of performance is maintained for the rest of the season, by April next year those jubilant scenes could be repeated for real.

For now, naturally, manager John Coleman will endeavour to keep his players' feet on the ground.

But for a few days at least they should revel in their achievements - once again making the nation sit up and take notice after impressing in front of the television cameras - then dare to contemplate how far more performances like that could take them.

Conference newcomers Grays had been dubbed the best side in the division on more than one occasion.

But even with 10 men for the final 20-odd minutes - not to mention copious amounts of added time - Stanley looked confident and in control.

And Paul Mullin and Steve Jagielka marked the club's milestone 100th Conference match with two goals worthy of winning any game.

Stanley proved how far they had progressed since their tentative early days in the Conference.

Their first game at Aldershot - also live on Sky Sports - was their only blip on an otherwise successful record in front of the television cameras.

Ninety-nine games down the line, they have become one of the dominant forces in the league, and proved it by bravely holding a red rag to the seemingly unstoppable Grays.

After testing the water with a couple of half chances, Stanley survived an early scare as Michael Welch appeared to bring down the dangerous Jamie Slabber inside the area.

But the referee felt the striker had gone down too easily under the challenge to warrant a penalty.

Welch's defensive partner Robbie Williams, however, failed to escape a booking after he tripped Dennis Oli as he burst through. It was an incident which led to Stanley manager Coleman being sent to the stands for charging out of his technical area to remonstrate with the linesman.

David Brown had the perfect chance to put a smile back on his manager's face when the effervescent Gary Roberts did well to pull the ball back from the byline, but the striker got his angles just wrong.

Welch was then unlucky not to score with a header as he towered high to meet Craney's looping free kick, but he nodded wide.

Stanley piled the pressure on with three corners in quick succession. So when they took the lead on 37 minutes, it was the least they deserved for their sustained pressure against a side who had promised much but had been made to look ordinary.

Roberts is no stranger to showing flashes of skill, but he surpassed himself with the trick which led to Mullin's second goal in as many games.

The winger had two defenders around him but managed to beat both by backheeling the ball between them, spinning on his heels and findingMullin, who clipped it into the bottom right corner.

Stanley then had their own appeals for a penalty turned down before having to ride out a spell of Grays pressure to keep their lead intact before the break.

Michael Kightly's shot looked to be going on target before Welch got his head in the way to deflect it over the bar. McLean then headed over and Welch put in a great challenge on Slabber after he had beaten Williams.

Darren Randolph then made a great save as former Aldershot front man McLean shot through Leam Richardson's legs.

But Stanley gave a reminder of their threat in first-half stoppage time as Welch was unlucky to head over from Craney's high corner.

The Reds started the second half brightly with Roberts seeing a dipping effort drop over the bar and Mullin unlucky not to turn in Jagielka's cross at the near post.

But when Grays equalised, the home fans found their voice and Stanley had to work hard to silence them.

McLean crossed to the far post from the right and Kightly found himself completely unmarked and with time and space to crack the ball past Randolph.

The introduction of Andy Mangan provided a new threat for Stanley, and his pace quickly outfoxed the Grays defence as, within two minutes of coming onto the pitch, he sprinted down the left and crossed for an unmarked Jagielka to swing a brilliant right-footed volley beyond goalkeeper Nick Eyre.

But Mangan went from hero to villain four minutes later. On being booked for a late tackle on McLean, he clipped the ball back but just away from the incident.

The referee called him back and didn't seem as if he would take any further action, but produced a red card.

Mangan had to be restrained by Craney on his way back to the changing rooms, while Stanley had to be cautious and controlled, but confident, in their approach to the remainder of the game.

Jagielka might have wrapped things up for the battling 10 but he was denied by Eyre's great save.

Grays broke and John Nutter dragged his shot wide from outside of the box.

Youth was exchanged for experience as Barry made way for Paul Cook, and the veteran midfielder was a calming influence to a youthful line-up.

Grays had second appeals for a penalty refused as John Martin went down on the edge of the box, but not even a free kick was awarded.

The clock was ticking down, albeit slowly for Stanley, but Randolph still had most of his work to do.

The Irishman stood up well to Slabber as he bore down on goal and made a firm block at his left hand post then got his fingertips to a deflected effort.

Deep into injury time, fullback Phil Edwards cleared Slabber's drive off the line and onto the bar to salvage the win and end Grays' 15-game unbeaten run.

Now, with four consecutive home games round the corner, Grays smarting from their first defeat of the season and Exeter dropping points at Altrincham - Stanley could use all of these factors to their advantage going into the busy Christmas period.