The Stanley players may have learned valuable lessons from Saturday’s loss to Northampton – but the fans may also pick up one.

Powerfully-built Cobblers striker Adebayo Akinfenwa was taking stick from the home supporters as the visitors launched their first attack in front of the Stanley end on 17 minutes.

And he promptly scored and added two more after the break, admitting that the taunts from the Stanley fans spurred him on.

"They were giving me stick but I don’t mind, although it was beautiful when I scored the first goal," he said.

"It’s pure banter, they have got to do what they do and I have got to do what I do and I would be disappointed if I didn’t get it.

"It’s just nice to have an answer."

If that was a helping hand the Stanley players also played a part in their downfall as a mad nine-minute spell let Akinfenwa run riot with what was, at 30, his first league hat-trick. "It was a crazy nine minutes that has cost us," admitted boss Leam Richardson, with his first defeat as the full-time manager.

"It was difficult to take as I looked around the dressing room and couldn’t pick out a bad performance.

"In fact I could pick out some good performances, yet we have lost and conceded four goals.

"It was a crazy nine minutes which dictated the game after we had found ourselves in front and comfortable.

"We had worked all week on combating Akinfenwa as he is effective at what he does and he has been around this league for a long time.

"For a decent period he was ineffective and then it was a mad few minutes and we went from comfortable to being behind.

"You can’t afford to leave Akinfenwa for a split-second but we did for their equaliser which came from a mistake, as did the next two.

"Then we lost our shape as we chased the game and it could have been worse in the last 10 minutes.

"If we had got a third we could have gone on and got a few more but we gave them a helping hand as all the goals were similar.

"But they are young lads and we are learning and we will stick together. If we play like that, we will win more than we lose. Sometimes, it just doesn’t roll for you and you find yourself with a defeat."

It had looked so good for the Reds with them buoyed by the addition of former England international striker James Beattie the day before, even though he had signed too late to be eligible for the Cobblers clash.

Richardson had brought frontman James Gray in on the left for his Football League debut and he caused a number of problems.

It was all Stanley in the early stages without really testing Wigan loan keeper Lee Nicholls, who had a spell at the Crown¿Ground last season.

However, in Northampton’s first attack, a short corner found ex-Rochdale full back Joe Widdowson on the left and he played in a ball which landed right on the head of Akinfenwa to steer home the opener.

It could have got worse for the Reds as a defensive mix-up almost let Clive Platt in, but he couldn’t finish and the ball found winger Lewis Wilson.

He had the full goal to aim at but he rifled the ball against crossbar and it was cleared, much to the Reds’ relief.

And there was then another hearts-in-mouths moment on 35 minutes when Dean Winnard lunged after losing control of the ball and caught Lewis Hornby – but thankfully referee Robert Madley only showed the right back a yellow.

Then Stanley responded with a short corner routine of their own to get back on level terms.

Lee Molyneux cut back to George Miller on the edge of the area and the young midfielder curled the ball into the bottom of the net for his second league goal eight minutes before the break.

There was still time for Gray to force Nicholls to push away his effort on the stroke of half-time as the Reds looked to use their momentum to good effect.

Rommy Boco, though, soon did this on 57 minutes as the Benin international raced from midfield, swerved beyond a number of tackles and unleashed an effort from 20 yards which flew into the top of the net giving Nicholls no chance.

It was a goal worthy of winning any game and at that point Northampton appeared to be out of ideas.

However, boss Aidy Boothroyd introduced striker Jake Robinson and Ishmel Demontagnac on 63 minutes and it proved vital as they pushed the Stanley backline deep and forced them into mistakes.

Within four minutes Akinfenwa had powered his way through a couple of defenders and squared for Robinson to fire home the equaliser on 67 minutes.

And, from seemingly being comfortably ahead, Stanley were chasing the game two minutes later as the Reds fell apart.

Emry Huws played a cross in, the Reds were static waiting for the off-side trap but the unmarked Akinfenwa flew onto the ball at the far post to head home his second of the game.

Stanley were all at sea and Akinfenwa completed his treble on 76 minutes when a long throw caused chaos in the Reds’ area and the powerful striker chested the ball down and volleyed home to celebrate his first league hat-trick.

It could have been worse as Robinson hit the outside of the upright as Northampton cruised in the final 10 minutes.

Akinfenwa went back to Northamptonshire with a signed home match ball – although no one from the hosts was going to ask him for it back!

They will be hoping they don’t gift him anything else come the return clash in March.