A NUMBER of times this season John Coleman has labelled Stanley's Conference clashes as "must-win" games and to his fury his team have failed to respond.
But even he admitted he was slighty stunned that his side found such a critical game to answer his appeals, hold their nerve and turn in a confident display to see off fellow promotion contenders Scarborough - which should have been easier that the scoreline suggested.
"I asked the players what they'd done with my side who go into their shell and panic and don't pass after going one-up," joked the manager.
But the Reds chief knew he could breath a huge sigh of relief as his side didn't let him, themselves or the fans down as they have done a number of times this season - and now everyone connected with the club hopes this is the spark needed to make a whole-hearted charge for the play-offs.
"We were up for this game and we showed a good appetitite," said the manager. "We played well in patches but we have got to start believing in ourselves a bit more. We are a good side and we have got to build on good starts better than we have done."
Stanley left the Seadogs gasping by their all-out start. It seemed there was no holds barred as every player tried to get in on the act.
Lee McEvilly and Paul Mullin began together up front and they almost made the defence suffer in the early stages with Mullin's overhead kick sailing just wide and McEvilly's bursting run into the area ended with his strike being blocked.
Andy Procter charged down the left wing but his cross was desperately cleared before a Steve Flitcroft corner left the defence at sixes and sevens with a McEvilly flick on finding Rory Prendergast at the far post but his pin point header was kept out by the sharp Leigh Walker.
It seemed it was only a matter of time before the Reds scored the opener and they duly obliged on 15 minutes when Peter Cavanagh's right wing cross was flicked on in the area by the unmarked Steve Jagielka to Prendergast who was charging in and fired home his fourth goal of the season.
It was what the Reds needed to settle a few nerves and they should have had more by the end of the half.
Flitcroft's 15 yard blast was pushed out by Walker and then defender Cavanagh ran half the length of the field to try and get on the scoresheet but, after chasing into the area, he fired his effort just wide of the near post.
Boro were struggling to cope with the barrage of Stanley attacks with Prendergast having another strike deflected for a corner and, from the resulting flag-kick, Robbie Williams' header was scrambled off the line.
There was more to come as a Mullin crossfield pass found the dangerous Prendergast and his fierce strike was wide of the goal while Mullin shot from a tight angle and Walker had to stretch to push the effort out.
But suddenly the worry surfaced that what had happened too often this season would happen again - that when Stanley miss chances, the opposition hit back.
And the Stanley fans' hearts were in their mouths when, four minutes before the break, a Neil Refearn corner found defender Colin Cryan and he headed down through a sea of bodies but Paul Crichton held on for his first real action. And the Stanley shot-stopper had to be at his best again when veteran striker David Reeves charged through unmarked but he fired straight at Crichton.
Scarborough boss Nick Henry said he had a few harsh words at half-time and they certainly worked for his side as they put Stanley under pressure in the opening minutes.
Chris Senior suddenly sprung to life but Crichton and a last ditch tackle by Chris Butler kept him from making a bigger impression.
But Stanley still had their chances with a Prendergast 30-yard screamer just missing the target before they finally got the crucial second.
Prendergast beat the off-side trap despite appeals from the Boro backline and crossed for McEvilly and Mullin who were rushing in. McEvilly got a touch but it bounced to Mullin who scrambled the ball home off the post for his 12th goal of the season.
The Scarborough box were livid and Community Officer Mitch Cook showed his frustration moments later by throwing the ball down in the Stanley technical area after it had gone out - and he was sent to the dressing rooms by the referee.
And it could have got worse for Scarborough with substitute Paul Howarth driving in a fierce free kick which Walker did well to save.
However, they were gifted a goal seven minutes from time when their free kick speciallist Redfearn drilled in a 20-yarder which Crichton had hold of - then dropped. And it fell to former Leeds player Tony Hackworth who pushed the ball home.
There was a worry that the Stanley of old would resurface as they threw away too many comfortable leads last season.
But Crichton did redeem himself by pushing away a Tyrone Thompson 20 yard effort which was heading for the top corner. Henry held his head in his hands while Coleman was just relieved when the final whistle went and three points were safely in the bag.
"We don't make anything easy for ourselves do we," shrugged the boss. "We have a habit of making things difficult and we did it again. Give them their due they came back strong but for the first half hour, it is as good as we can play.
"We made lots of chances, were very bright, there was excellent passing and we got our goal. You have got to hand it to them though as they didn't roll over and die and they kept going. But we got our second and that should be the key to go on and win it comfortably but Crichts has made an error and held his hand up and apologised to the lads.
"But we have come out with a win and that's want we wanted. That's three wins on the spin and I think we can get better."
Coleman was glad Mullin broke his run of five games without a goal.
"I always like my strikers to score, I was a forward and I believe goals breed confidence. And Lee Mac was unlucky not to get a goal as well.
"Rory was a lot better, a lot brighter and a lot more of a threat. He has had a couple of screaming shots which only just missed which would have been really good goals.
"It is good that he is more positive as he is one our of creative players, he makes things happen in front of goal and fully deserved the goal. If we continue to play like that we are a handful for anyone going forward. And that is what we have got to do to get into the play-offs."
