ROB Elliot is already a hero in Accrington Stanley fans eyes - but he could have made himself an absolute legend if his late shot at goal had come off on Saturday.

The teenage goalkeeper has excelled himself at shot-stopping since he signed from Charlton but he had a cheeky go at getting on the scoresheet at crisis-club Crawley.

Town keeper Phil Smith had rushed up for a corner in injury time as he tried to get his side back on level terms following a Gary Roberts wonder strike in the first half.

And he was still racing back to goal when eagle-eyed Elliot gave the ball an almighty whallop from the goal kick and had Smith scrambling back - and denied Elliot what would have been a headline making goal.

Instead the headlines were reserved again for winger Roberts who spun something out of nothing as he got the ball on the right wing three minutes before half-time and chipped the ball, lofting it over Smith and into the top corner of the net.

It was a goal worthy of winning any game and it sent the Reds 16 points clear at the top of the Conference table as their nearest challengers' games were snowed off - and made it nine wins on the bounce.

But the Reds also had to thank some reflex goal saving clearances from both Leam Richardson and Phil Edwards as, in the first minutes and the last, they denied Crawley an equaliser

"When the final whistle went it was like taking your shoes off that are too tight. It was an unbelievable relief," joked boss John Coleman who admits he is getting more nervous with every game.

"It was a big performance out there from all the lads. The preparation wasn't ideal with Peter Cavanagh being injured, Robbie Williams suspended and Michael Welch going down with a migraine the night before.

"But everyone who has come in has stood up and been counted and it was a fully hard working professional performance.

"Gary scored a magnificent goal - and it is a shame Robbie's didn't go in at the end too.

"But there is a steely determination about us and a willingness to win. Jimmy (Bell, assistant manager) has hammered home to the lads that if everyone else does their jobs and works hard and defends well, then we have flair in abundance to win games.

"We have Gary, Ian Craney, Andy Todd, David Brown and Paul Mullin that can hurt teams - and thankfully Gary came up trumps today."

Everyone was unsure what to expect at the Broadfield Stadium after a week of turmoil for the relegation-haunted club.

Chairman Chas Majeed, in an attempt to restructure the club and reduce staff wages, had put the whole squad up for sale on Thursday and the players had to take a pay cut. Several protesters raced onto the field at the start of the game but were quickly removed.

It was believed John Hollins may have to field a greatly understrength side but the only regular who was missing was Simon Wormull who had switched to Lewes.

And, in fact, it was Coleman who was forced to re-arrange his team as Welch succumbed to a bad migraine and had to sit out the game with Phil Edwards moving into the centre of defence and youngster Danny Ventre moving into the right back slot.

And he had a tricky start when left winger Tony Scully ghosted past him and placed in a great ball to Conference prolific striker Daryl Clare. Clare tried to place it instead of blast it and Richardson stuck out his foot on the goalline and was relieved to see the ball cleared.

It did take the Reds a while to get going but they did then begin to show sparks with Paul Mullin heading across goal and Ian Craney's 18-yard shot testing Smith but he was able to push the ball away.

Andy Todd, back after missing the Burton game, headed wide while Stanley keeper Elliot got the faintest of touches on a Steve Burton goalbound flick header to touch it around the post.

It was an entertaining game and it could have gone either way with Crawley matching up to Stanley well.

Clare missed a header when he was six yards from goal after the Reds lost the ball in midfield while a Mullin overhead kick at the other end landed straight into Smith's arms.

And the former Boston striker tested the visitors from range with a shot which wasn't far off a goal.

But then Roberts sprung into life and did what everyone knows he can do to turn the game in the Reds favour and give them a half-time lead.

There was a bit of crowd chaos during the interval but all eyes were on the game once the match resumed.

Hollins went for it putting on two more forwards in Danny Ekoku and Omari Coleman as his side looked to get what would have seemed an unlikely point at the start of the game.

Tempers did then start to get while chances were limited with Todd flashing an effort wide and Clare curling a free kick straight into the arms of the waiting Elliot.

But, with the game so tight, it did lead to a grandstand finish.

Sub Andy Mangan could have given Coleman the early relief he craved as Mullin's flick sent him clean through but, with only the keeper to beat, he tried to take it round Smith and the Crawley man managed to take the ball off Mangan's feet.

Then, in injury time, the ball bobbled round the Stanley penalty area with the visiting fans holding their breath

The ball fell to sub Neil Jenkins just six yards out and he rifled the ball forwards - and Edwards was there on the line to clear it for a corner.

Smith came up for it - and then, when it landed in Elliot's arms, had to race down the field to deny the Stanley keeper what would have been a long-remembered goal.

"We have broke our own Conference record of away wins now. We have got nine away wins last year and had eight last year," smiled Coleman. "Now we have just got to carry on."