Peter Murphy and Padraig Amond scored in each half to move Accrington Stanley a step closer to clinching League two survival.

The Reds took advantage of bringing forward their Lancashire derby with Morecambe to Friday night by going five points clear of the drop
zone, piling the pressure on their relegation rivals ahead of their games on Saturday.

Stanley struggled to build any sustained possession in the first half and Morecambe threatened on the break, with Andrew Fleming testing Paul Rachubka with a 20-yard strike.

Kevin Ellison then sent a long-range effort wide for the visitors before Lee Molyneux, who missed out on the League Two player-of-the-month award earlier on Friday, won a free-kick 40 yards out in the 28th minute.

Despite his recent scoring streak, Molyneux chose not to go for goal, hitting it hard and low into a crowd of players on the edge of the box, where Murphy got a touch to divert it past keeper Barry Roche for his second goal in two games following his last-gasp equaliser at York last Saturday.

Rommy Boco then fired over for Stanley while Morecambe's Jordan Burrow volleyed straight at Rachubka, but Stanley made a strong start to the
second half.

Laurence Wilson fired wide before Boco burst through the centre of the Shrimps defence and rounded Roche in the 58th minute, leading to the
Reds' second goal.

A covering defender prevented Boco scoring a fine solo goal but the loose ball ran to Amond, who tucked in his second goal in three.

Ellison blazed over late on but a fourth game unbeaten for Stanley was never in doubt.