IF ever proof was needed that Accrington Stanley possess goal threats all over the field, their two centre backs provided it last night with the strikes that further enhanced the in-form Reds’ play-off credentials.

Sean Hessey and Phil Edwards combined to put Stanley 3-0 up before half time against League Two bottom club Stockport County and make it 13 points from their last five games.

Just three weeks ago, the Reds were 19th – only five points ahead of Stockport – but now they sit 11th, seven points behind seventh-placed Gillingham with four games in hand.

With an opportunity to make up further ground when they travel to Gillingham on Saturday, their promotion prospects are growing fast – providing that off the field they avoid the prospect of administration, and the 10-point deduction that would come with it.

Stanley went into the game without Charlie Barnett, who picked up an ankle injury in Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Lincoln, so Sean McConville returned to the starting line-up.

The Reds had the first opening of the game as McConville swung in a corner and Edwards’ header deflected high into the air and dropped on to the top of the bar, although there was little danger of it ever beating Stockport keeper Ian McLoughlin.

The visitors went into the game having conceded an incredible 79 goals in their 35 league games and Ian Craney went close as he took advantage of hesitation between keeper and defender to nip in and hook the ball towards the empty goal – but it trickled just wide Stanley continued to have chances, with a number of players going close, and the opener came in the 28th minute.

Hessey lined up a 25-yard free kick and the centre back drilled it under the jumping wall, with McLoughlin unable to get a firm enough hand on it to prevent it from finding the corner.

Seven minutes later and one-way traffic resulted in a second after Aaron Brown inexplicably handled as he jumped to meet a corner.

The Stockport defender protested it was accidental, but the spot kick allowed Stanley's other centre back Edwards to join Hessey on the scoresheet – finding the top left corner in emphatic fashion.

Before half time Stanley had the rare luxury of a 3-0 lead as Brown blundered once more, miscontrolling in the box and then tripping Terry Gornell. This time Edwards found the bottom right corner for his 10th goal of the season – nine of them from the spot.

The hapless Hatters, looking increasingly destined for the Blue Square Bet Premier, were booed off by the travelling fans at half time and they at least stemmed the tide after the interval.

Alex Cisak made a fine save to deny Brown late on as Stanley secured a third successive clean sheet.

It was the perfect night for centre back duo Hessey and Edwards, and the Reds’ play-off chances appear to be increasing all the time.

Stanley: Alex Cisak; Dean Winnard, Phil Edwards, Sean Hessey, Joe Jacobson; Luke Joyce, Andy Procter; Jimmy Ryan (Craig Lindfield 74), Ian Craney (Ray Putterill 74), Sean McConville (Andy Parkinson 83); Terry Gornell. Subs not used: Ian Dunbavin, Kevin Long, Tom Smyth, Peter Murphy.

Stockport: Ian McLoughlin; Andy Halls, Jordan Rose (David Poole 24), Aaron Brown, Alan Goodall; Greg Tansey, Matt Paterson (Danny Rowe 88), Paul Turnbull, Adam Griffin; Anthony Elding (Tom Fisher 66), James Wallace. Subs not used: Matt Glennon, Mark Lynch, James Vincent, Danny Whitehead.

Referee: Oliver Langford.

Attendance: 1,831.