IT WAS too little too late for Stanley as two late goals gave them some respectability in Nottingham - but the game was already over.
A Gary Roberts penalty in the 91st minute made it three goals in three games for the winger and then Paul Mullin chested the ball home in the 93rd minute for his first league goal.
But these just papered over the cracks after the Reds had conceded three goals in the first 35 minutes - all from set pieces.
Mike Edwards scored with a neatly worked free kick on 11 minutes when he latched onto Dan Martin's chip and fired home off the post.
It was two on 28 minutes when a Martin corner was glanced into the net by Stanley defender Robbie Williams.
And seven minutes later a Martin free kick curled round the wall and tucked low into the bottom corner of the goal.
The Magpies could have added to their score although the Reds did perform better in the second half with Andy Todd moving into right back in place of Danny Ventre and Julien N'Da on for the injured Williams.
"The defending was shambolic," slammed manager John Coleman. "We are just not giving ourselves a chance. Six out of seven league games we have conceded early and we are always chasing the game. There is hard work to do or I may have to change the personel."
