STANLEY boss John Coleman won't be bragging after continuing to torment his former club Morecambe.

The Reds' faithful are certainly gloating, though, after watching their side dig deep to maintain their remarkable record against their bitter rivals on Friday night.

Coleman is the second highest goal scorer in Morecambe's history yet the Shrimps must now be sick of the sight of him – and Stanley.

The two clubs have now met 15 teams in the Football League and Friday's victory means Morecambe are still to win any while Stanley have won 11.

Many fans had got into the Halloween spirit by turning up in fancy dress and early on it looked as though it'd be another horror show for Morecambe after last season's 5-1 drubbing.

Stanley skipper Luke Joyce converted a fifth-minute penalty before the recalled Shay McCartan doubled their lead on 11 minutes.

Morecambe pulled one back on 51 minutes through Paul Mullin – Morecambe's 19-year-old striker, not the Accy legend who finished his career with the Shrimps in 2011.

But Stanley put in a superb all-round performance to secure yet another derby win over their former non-league foes.

“I know it means a lot to our fans and I'm really pleased for them,” said Coleman. “I, personally, don't take a great deal of pleasure out of beating Morecambe.

“I've got a great affinity to Morecambe, I've got lots of friends there, none more so than the manager Jim (Bentley) and his assistant Ken (McKenna).

“Apart from the 90 minutes, we help each other as much as we can, so I won't be gloating. Getting the three points is what's paramount to me and the pleasing thing for me is how we stuck our chests out.

“Like the old song goes, 'we shall not be moved', and we were certainly like that in the second half.”

Stanley had put themselves in control with a dominant first half. Morecambe featured three ex-Accy players, including left-back Laurence Wilson, and John O'Sullivan ran him ragged.

As early as the fifth minute the on-loan Blackburn winger turned Wilson inside out before cutting into the box, where he was upended by midfielder Alan Goodall.

Joyce took the spot-kick and sidefooted it confidently into the bottom-right corner, with keeper Scott Davies diving the wrong way.

It seemed the Morecambe players were already thinking 'here we go again' and Stanley were determined to capitalise.

O'Sullivan played the ball inside to McCartan and the in-form Ulsterman, back for the injured Anthony Barry as Stanley's only change, had the space to turn then cut inside Alex Kenyon and unleash a fierce 25-yard strike which took a slight deflection before nestling in the bottom-right corner.

Morecambe then caught the Stanley defence square and the superb Rob Atkinson made a last-ditch tackle to deny ex-Accy striker Padraig Amond, while Andy Fleming fired wide from distance.

But the Reds were stronger all over the field with Andy Procter, a veteran of this derby rivalry, looking revitalised in centre-midfield.

O'Sullivan and Lee Molyneux combined to find Sean Maguire, whose low cross almost found Procter's run. O'Sullivan managed to find Procter moments later but this time his shot was blocked.

Maguire also had a shot blocked while Mullin's tame effort kept Jesse Joronen alert at the other end.

Perfect sliding tackles by Procter and McCartan then epitomised the Stanley spirit and the ball broke to Molyneux, whose delightful chip saw Maguire's header saved at the far post.

Maguire's flick almost put Procter through on goal but his tackle on keeper Davies sent the ball just wide.

Kenyon tested Joronen before the break, while Maguire's shot was deflected just wide, but credit to Morecambe, they looked a different team after the interval.

Kevin Ellison sent a free-kick just over before Wilson's low cross found its way to Kenyon, whose close-range effort was tipped over by Joronen and the Fulham loanee injured his knee as he landed.

For the second time in three home games Stanley saw their keeper stretchered off and substitute Luke Simpson conceded before he'd even touched the ball.

The corner was cleared but Shaun Beeley's inswinger back into the box found Mullin unmarked to glance a header past Simpson.

The Shrimps now had their tails up and Amond headed over from a Wilson free-kick while Kenyon had a shot blocked.

Although the match had developed into a hard-fought derby, Coleman felt a couple of the Morecambe tackles were over-zealous as they forced McCartan and O'Sullivan to hobble off.

It was end-to-end stuff now, which made for a gripping finish. Atkinson blocked Fleming's shot and Ellison bundled a cross wide under pressure from Nicky Hunt, before Molyneux twice tested Davies as the Reds looked to clinch victory.

Tom Aldred then headed back across goal for sub Marcus Carver, who showed good strength to head goalwards at the second attempt, only to see Davies superbly tip over.

Kenyon volleyed wide from a Beeley throw before Carver fired wide after latching onto Beeley's wayward backpass, while Maguire tested Davies from a tight angle.

After Joronen's injury, seven minutes of stoppage time were indicated and free-kick specialist Ryan Williams twice had Stanley fans biting their nails. But the Shrimps sub sent one of those free-kicks well wide and the other straight at Simpson.

Stanley: Joronen 8 (Simpson 50, 7), Hunt 7, Aldred 8, Atkinson 9, Winnard 7, O'Sullivan 9 (Gray 77), Joyce 8, Procter 8, Molyneux 8, McCartan 8 (Carver 65, 7), Maguire 8. Subs: Hatfield, Liddle, Mingoia, Windass. Attendance: 1,710 (307 away).