STANLEY took a giant step closer to Conference football with a hard fought win over Lancashire rivals Lancaster City at Giant Axe as their closest rivals all lost ground in the race for promotion.
While Barrow, Stalybridge and Vauxhall Motors were all slipping to defeat, Accrington extended their lead to 14 points courtesy of a stunning Paul Mullin strike mid-way through the second half.
It was goal worthy of winning any match, Mullin thundering a first-time volley beyond City 'keeper Mark Thornley from just inside the area after being picked out by Lutel James' fine cross from the left.
It was always going to take something special to beat Lancaster's goalkeeper who produced a string of fine saves to keep Stanley at bay, but the league leaders will also be thanking their own 'keeper after Jamie Speare made two crucial blocks in the dying moments to preserve the lead.
Accrington were made to battle all the way in an entertaining game by a Lancaster side in the wrong half of the table and suffering, by their recent standards, an indifferent season.
But it was City who took the lead against the run of play in only the eighth minute when Brian Welch, against his hometown team and former club, stabbed in at the back post after Brian Butler had escaped his marker to cross from the right.
Three minutes later the equaliser arrived from the penalty spot, James' cross bounced awkwardly in the area and Lancaster captain Andy Fensome dragged back Jonathan Smith in the area as he tried to control the ball. The infringement was spotted by referee David Mort - who had an impressive game throughout - and James stepped up to beat Thornley with a sweetly struck spot-kick high into the top corner.
With both goalkeepers in such fine form it was going to take a piece of real quality finishing to finally settle the game, and Mullin's 64th minute volley was just what Accrington required - that and the news filtering through from Holker Street, Bower Fold and Westfield Lane that their rivals had all ended the day empty-handed.
