ACCRINGTON Stanley headed to Altrincham with a 100 per cent pre-season record and came home with that run intact, though they needed a late Peter Murphy header to beat the Conference North side.

James Beattie named nine contracted players in the starting XI at Moss Lane and the Reds were in front after 16 minutes when one of them, George Miller, blasted beyond Alty keeper Adam Reid from long range with his effort cannoning in off the post.

But in intense heat the Reds couldn’t press home their advantage and when Murphy gave away a free kick just outside the area the home side levelled.

Full back Shaun Densmore curled his effort around the wall and past Ian Dunbavin.

After the interval Alty went in front from the penalty spot after James Walshaw tumbled in the area under a challenge from Murphy, picked himself up and beat substitute goalkeeper Andrew Dawber from 12 yards.

The scoreline certainly wasn’t in the Stanley script but their superior fitness began to tell.

Shay McCartan threaded James Gray in behind the defence and he forced a save from Reid at the near post before Nicky Hunt arrowed a shot wide.

Beattie gave the established names an hour before making wholesale changes and it was then those who were looking to win a deal at the Store First Stadium who came to the fore.

Former Brighton and Leeds winger Seb Carole led the Altrincham defence a merry dance with a turn and run that ended with a left foot shot that was inches wide before the Reds did conjure an equaliser.

Home grown prospect Marcus Carver was the provider in the 76th minute, crossing the ball from the left flank for young Rangers forward Kal Naismith who did his chances of earning a permanent Stanley deal no harm by sweeping the ball into the net from just inside the box.

As Altrincham began to fade, Stanley subs Josh Windass and Jacob Gibson combined only for the latter to poke wide of the post when one on one.

But any lingering home hopes of a draw were extinguished a minute from the end when Carole and Murphy rose highest to head home and win it for the Reds.

Stanley: Dunbavin (Dawber 46), Hunt (Watson 62), Aldred, Murphy, Liddle (Windass 62), Jones (Carole 62), Miller (Gibson 62), Travis (Clark 62), Hatfield (Carver 62), Gray (Williams 62), McCartan (Naismith 62).