JOHN Coleman and Jimmy Bell anticipated there would be goals in this game.

What the Accrington Stanley management duo probably hadn't bargained for was play-offs hopefuls Grays delaying their charge for the title as they inflicted only a second home Conference defeat of the season on the Reds.

But it was a sign of their recent home form that Coleman fears could lead to them stumbling rather than sprinting over the finishing line.

The Stanley boss is an advocate of being the master of your own destiny, but after this performance he would surely have been grateful for Hereford yet again providing a helping hand by drawing 1-1 at Woking. And had it not been for Tamika Mkandawire's late equaliser, the news from the Kingsfield Stadium would have been even better.

Those two results mean Stanley being crowned Conference champions is no longer a possibility on Tuesday night as Hereford travel to Morecambe.

The inevitable, though, is surely now just on hold. But Coleman won't be letting anyone rest on their laurels in the last five games. And he will be particularly keen to erase the defensive calamities which allowed Grays to run riot in the second half on Saturday, with him conceding: "The best team won."

Stanley handled the variety of attacking options which the southerners displayed in the first half. Michael Kightly looked the biggest threat with his darting angled runs from the right wing. The front two of Aaron McLean and Mark Debolla also looked capable of doing some damage.

But whatever Grays threw at the Reds, they were stifled by a resilient back line.

Goalkeeper Rob Elliot caused problems for himself by picking up an early injury as a result of his own indecision, but he battled on bravely and received good protection from his back four in the opening period.

Michael Welch was particularly prominent, coming up with a crucial challenge on 14 minutes when good link-up play around the edge of the area ended with McLean bursting into the box. But Welch stretched out his long, right leg to make a clean and well-timed tackle.

From there, Stanley grew in confidence and Andy Todd demonstrated the determination and will to succeed that has epitomised Stanley's work ethic all season as he brushed aside left back John Nutter, charged down the right and sent a searching cross into the six-yard box for Mullin. It was too far away from the striker to connect with, but when Gary Roberts galloped onto goalkeeper Ashley Bayes' parry, he had the goal in his sights and smashed the ball back across the recovering stopper and into the bottom right corner.

Todd provided the best chance for a second after Romuald Boco controlled Elliot's long kick and released the wide man on the overlap. Todd produced another good cross, but this time the keeper claimed it before Mullin could get his head to it.

But Stanley struggled to build on their good start and Grays had a number of chances before the break.

Welch got in the way of most things, thwarting Debolla and Glenn Poole. Williams then made a goal-saving block on Debolla as he raced on to McLean's flick on, which made the defence's second half disappearing act all the more baffling.

A calamitous start led to Elliot having a clearance charged down by McLean, which he managed to smother before the striker could poke it into an empty net.

The Reds recovered and Ian Craney made an audacious bid for goal as he struck a free kick from around 40 yards straight at goal, but straight at Bayes. Andy Mangan then replaced David Brown to try to create more energy up front.

But Stanley soon found themselves on the back foot as McLean's cross wasn't dealt with and, after a catalogue of defensive errors, Debolla's shot from the edge of the box was turned in by Glenn Poole.

Grays went for the jugular two minutes later as they made an attacking substitution, bringing on striker John Martin for midfielder Ade Olayinka. And the switch paid dividends as McLean was allowed to get another cross in, which an unmarked Poole dived on to head past a cruelly exposed Elliot.

Stanley were soon level as Craney got a lucky ricochet after Phil Edwards released Mangan, and unleashed a spectacular shot from the left of the area into the top right corner.

It was a goal worthy of winning any game. Unfortunately, the defending wasn't.

After Craney had another free kick palmed away by the keeper, that was about as good as it got for Stanley as Grays ran riot.

Elliot made a double save from Poole, then Debolla's follow-up, before Poole fizzed a shot over from Williams' headed clearance.

The onslaught was relentless and the Reds caved in with 11 minutes to go.

Craney lost possession in midfield and McLean defied the inconvenience of his shorts falling down to surge forward. He had his initial shot kept out by Elliot's legs after beating Williams, but the defence failed to clear and when the ball fell to McLean again, he made no mistake with his finish.

Elliot stopped a fourth in a one-on-one with Kightly a minute later before making a brave stop at the feet of the wide man somehow finding the strength to ignore the pain of his knee injury and sprint to block the ball at Kightly's feet.

Had it not been for the loan goalkeeper's heroics, the outcome could have been worse.

But Stanley need only six points from their last five games to secure an historic return to the Football League. And Coleman will be determined to make his side perform like champions again for Friday's trip to Forest Green, where result permitting at Christie Park tomorrow the title could still be won.