THE usual comments were banded around when former Stanley striker George Hudson was announced as a guest at Tuesday’s clash with Northampton.

"We could do with him now," was the general response for Hudson who scored 35 goals in a season for the Reds in 1960 - a joint record.

Hudson also played for the Cobblers as they might have felt the same about their ex-player as their fans last scored a competitive goal on April 23 - and 490 minutes of football had passed since then.

But Hudson, who lives in Northampton, would have been smiling at his home town’s finishing while ruing the ones that got away for the Reds who just couldn’t take their chances.

They were already chasing the game at 2-0 down after 18 minutes and then hit the post twice and also missed Jimmy Eyan continued their horrendous penalty run making it five misses out of six in the Reds last spot kicks.

Northampton boss Stuart Gray was relieved his side finally scored after around eight hours without a goal.

The Cobblers put three past Accrington Stanley and Gray said: "It is a monkey off the teams back finally scoring.

"It was a good all-round team performance - the three strikers have scored and we have kept a clean sheet. We have thrown our bodies on the line when it counted. Everyone was so determined and we were on the front foot from the off.

"We watched the video of the Chesterfield defeat and had a good talk about it that we wanted to  to get at them from the off.

" Steve Guinan took his goal fantastically, the penalty was well taken and we deserved to be 2-0 up.

"We did defend deep in the second half and had a bit of luck but then it was a great third goal.

"We showed effort and commitment and forced the opposition into errors. It will be a huge lift to everyone."

 Stanley boss John COleman was gutted as, after a poor first half, his side rallied after the break but didn't take their chances, hitting the post twice.

 "History tells me that Accrington Stanley never come back from 2-0 down but we had a good go. We conceded two sloppy goals and then were wasteful.

"You can't keep wasting chances like that and if these players do, then we will get new players in.

"I was disappointed with the result but not the second half performance as I think that's the best we have played this season.

"We can't beat ourselves up about it though. There is still a long way to go but we know we have got to tighten out."

Guinan ended 493 minutes of hurt for the Cobblers when he unleashed an unstoppable shot which found the top corner of the net. Northampton hadn't scored yet this season and had drawn a blank in two games from the last campaign when they were relegated but, on three minutes, Ryan Gilligan found striker
Guinan and the ex-Hereford man hit a 20 yard strike perfectly to the joy of the four coach load of visiting fans.

Stanley tried to get back in it quickly with John Miles attempting to chip Cobblers keeper Chris Dunn minutes later but he was wide while Reds midfielder Jimmy Ryan tried one of his trademark thunderbolt's on 12 minutes but it took a wicked deflection.

 But it was number two which followed for the Cobblers when Phil Edwards tugged down Adebayo Akinfenwa on 18 minutes  - although the Reds' defence felt the striker had hand balled it first.

 Referee Steve Bratt pointed to the spot and it was Akinfenwa who sent Stanley keeper Alan Martin the wrong way.  And it could have been worse for the Reds when Guinan again got the ball on the edge of the area and his strike hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced out - much to the relief of
the Stanley fans.

 Home boss Coleman will have given his side a stern talking to at half-time and a Bobby Grant free kick should have been converted by Dean Winnard who was at the far post but it was glanced off target by the defender immediately after the break.

 Dunn finally had a save to make after a goalmouth scramble ended with the ball coming out to Grant but he hit it straight at the keeper.

And then Stanley suddenly came to life in the final 20 minutes. A John Miles free kick led to another free for all in the area with the Cobblers having to clear off the line while a  Ryan 25 yard free kick smashed against the upright.

Dunn dived low to stop another Ryan blast while Reds defender Edwards hit the post with a header and Paul Mullin had the full goal to shoot at but  drove the ball over crossbar.

 But the Cobblers secured the game when an Andy Holt long throw bounced on the edge of the area and sub Billy McKay got the ball and hammered it into the bottom corner of the net on 78 minutes.

Stanley could have got something at the death but Ryan fired his penalty wide to compound their misery.