GED BRANNAN celebrated his first ever league hat-trick - but still managed to upset his manager.

Brannan kept his cool to slot home two penalties and then fired home in the dying minutes after a Jonathan Smith strike had been cleared off the line.

"I was delighted for Ged but I was a bit sick as I had had small bet with Cookey that Smithy would score a goal," said the Reds chief.

Hero Brannan admitted: "It's fantastic to get a hat-trick but it's even better if I have upset the boss and made him lose some money!"

But, joking aside, a five goal thrashing of one-time table toppers Dagenham gave Stanley their fifth win out of seven games this season, moved them up to second spot and keeps the confidence sky-high among the players.

No bookings in the last five games, no goals conceded in four and what was a good start to the season, is suddenly a fantastic start and Brannan believes it can continue.

"There are a lot of good players at the club," said the midfielder. "Steve Jagielka, Ian Craney and myself seem to work well together in midfield, Cav (Peter Cavanagh) is always good, Mullers (Paul Mullin) is always steady and then you have got Lee McEvilly.

"And whoever has come in at the back has done well. The team is gelling together and if we can keep it going we will be right up there at the end of the season."

Coleman is just delighted his team keep producing - especially away from home which was such a problem last season.

"It is a hard place to come to, Dagenham, they are a decent side. We went with the mentality of not going like we did against Stevenage and shooting ourselves in the foot and so it didn't matter how dour the first 20 minutes were, we wanted still to be competing and we were."

The first 20 minutes were even with Stanley having a new-look back line bringing in teenage loan signing Anthony Gerrard, from Everton, and Smith in the centre of the defence for both their first starts of the season.

And they both had to stand firm, Smith taking the ball from the foot of top scorer Chris Moore as he charged forward and Gerrard keeping the front pairing of Tony Boot and Moore quiet.

The game only really came to life when a Steve Jagielka corner was headed down by Smith and came out to Brannan who fired forward - and the ball hit Shane Blackett on the arm on 43 minutes.

"We got the penalty at the right time just before half-time. The lad blocked the ball with his arms and stopped a certain goal, it was going in," said Coleman.

With regular penalty taker Lutel James on the bench, Brannan stepped up.

"We had gone to West Ham's training ground and practised penalties," continued the boss. "I knew Lutel wasn't playing so had an eye on who would take them. I decided Ged but didn't tell him until before the game."

"I had taken penalties in Scotland although I was a bit nervous," confirmed Brannan. "I said I would try my best, the keeper did dive the right way, but I was just glad it went in."

Brannan kept his nerve and fired low past keeper Tony Roberts - the keeper did guess the right way but it nestled into the corner.

There were half chances at either end just after the break.

Paul Mullin will be disappointed he fired one header straight at Roberts but then Ian Craney tried his luck from 20 yards.

The strike took a deflection off Ashley Vickers and the ball tucked into the bottom corner of the net on 64 minutes to give the Reds a cushion.

The Daggers hadn't really threatened up front and they didn't test Jon Kennedy until the 67th minute when Jake Leberl's shot was saved low by the Stanley shot-stopper.

Then, on 70 minutes, Roberts was sent off after lashing out at Rory Prendergast.

The winger had raced into the area and had fallen under a challenge from Vickers. The referee waved away penalty appeals but then, off the ball, Roberts lashed out at Prendergast and had to go.

"He raised his hands," said Coleman. "It was more of a slap than a punch but you can't do that, we have fallen foul of things like that in the past. It did spoil the game as a contest but we have shown again how to play against 10-men. It was a good professional job."

A spot-kick then had to be given and Brannan stepped up against sub keeper Abi Baruwa.

"There was less pressure because at 2-0 and with them having a man sent off, the game was over," said Brannan. "The keeper guessed the right way again but it went in."

Two minutes later and Baruwa was once again picking the ball out of the back of the net.

Mullin raced onto a Craney through ball, the keeper came out and saved it but the ball fell to Mullin again who, although grounded, got the final touch and the ball rolled over the line for his fifth of the season.

And he could have made it number six but defender Anwar Uddin blocked the effort in the dying minutes as Mullin was clean through.

But Brannan still found time to celebrate number three when McEvilly's ball in found Mullin, but his shot was saved, it fell to Smith whose effort was cleared off the line and bounced out nicely for Brannan for a tap into the empty net.

"It was fantasitc," said Brannan. "My first every hat-trick although I have to give Smithy a mention for missing the shot in the last minute."

Coleman was just impressed with his side all over the park.

"I was worried after Ged scored his third that we could concede a late goal so I was urging the lads to stop celebrating. The fact we didn't, did the keeper and the defence a world of good as regards confidence."