Stanley came from behind at Altrincham on Saturday to make it three wins from three in their opening pre-season friendlies.

Altrincham play four divisions higher than Stanley’s previous opponents, Nelson and Darwen, so provided a much sterner test for the Reds.

Although George Miller’s long-range strike gave Stanley the lead, James Beattie’s squad found themselves 2-1 down three minutes into the second half.

But Accy improved after eight substitutions on the 62-minute mark, with late goals by trialist Kal Naismith and Peter Murphy ensuring the Reds went into Wednesday’s friendly with Everton on the back of another victory.

“We were a bit impatient in the first half,” said Beattie. “I want the lads to close people down but the defenders defended a bit too deep, which created gaps between defence and midfield and they (Altrincham) picked us off.

“We were chasing around a bit too much, then when we did regain possession, we were giving it back too easily. When that clicked in the lads’ heads, they squeezed up and I don’t think we had a problem.

“I wanted to see if they could spot the problem themselves. It took them 25 minutes but they did it.

“When the other lads came on there was a bit more dynamism, we were a lot more patient in midfield and the gaps were better.”

Altrincham reached the Conference North play-offs last season and were the better side early on, with Kyle Perry firing wide.

But Stanley opened the scoring on 16 minutes through a fine strike by Miller. The midfielder latched onto a headed clearance and advanced towards Accy’s right wing before wrapping his right foot around the ball and drilling it in off the far post from 25 yards.

That was a rare moment of magic for the Reds as several passes went astray, leaving themselves open to the counter-attack.

Although James Walshaw missed a chance for the hosts, Alty drew level on 35 minutes after Murphy, playing at centre-back alongside Tom Aldred, made a late challenge 20 yards out. Robins right-back Shaun Densmore then stepped up to curl the free-kick around the wall and inside Ian Dunbavin’s near post.

The only change at half-time saw Dunbavin replaced by Andrew Dawber and although he kept out Matt Doughty’s effort, Murphy fouled Walshaw as he tried to control the rebound.

Walshaw fired the penalty straight down the middle to put Alty in front, before James Gray fired too close to the home keeper while Nicky Hunt drilled a low strike wide of the far post.

Beattie then made eight changes, switching to a 3-4-1-2 formation with Aldred, Murphy and trialist Carl Watson at the back.

Wing-back Seb Carole was the first sub to impress, firing wide after a good turn and run down the right, while Naismith blazed over.

Naismith provided a much more assured finish on 77 minutes though. Luke Clark clipped a clever ball over the home defence towards Marcus Carver down the left and Carver did well to hold off his man before cutting the ball back for Naismith to sweep in the equaliser from 12 yards.

Josh Windass then played in fellow trialist Jacob Gibson, only for the midfielder to fire wide. But a minute from time Carole played a short corner to Carver before crossing for Murphy to head home from close range.

Stanley : Dunbavin (Dawber 46), Hunt (Watson 62), Aldred, Murphy, Liddle (Windass 62), Jones (Carole 62), Miller (Gibson 62), Travis (Clark 62), Hatfield (Carver 62), Gray (Williams 62), McCartan (Naismith 62).