IT'S A long trip to Gravesend especially on a Friday night - but the belief that it could be replaced by Peterborough or Cheltenham next season is fast turning into a reality and no Stanley fan would mind.

The Reds made it 14 league games unbeaten and chalked up their 12th win out of those games on Friday - a staggering return of 38 points out of a possible 42.

And, as they have done so often this season, they exorcised yet another of their demons of the last two campaigns by winning a game against Gravesend.

Everyone of Stanley's rivals would have been praying for a slip up by John Coleman's side who had never beaten 'Fleet but the Reds, as the boss would say, have been relentless and, dare we say it, seem unstoppable.

There was a touch of fortune about the first and second goals at Stonebridge but you make your own luck and the Stanley players were in the right place to pounce on defensive errors.

"That was a very professional performance as it was a tough game," said Coleman.

"In the main, we have defended well and you need that because that is their jobs. Rob (Elliot) has popped up with a good save and Mullers (Paul Mullin) has popped up with two good goals.

"There were a lot of big performances out there. Players had to do things that they are not normally asked to do. Gary Roberts did ever so well so did Andy Todd. A lot of the time, it is not about them going by people, it is about tracking back and getting a nick in here or there just to break things up and they have done that well."

Roberts could have scored another of his stunning free kicks but was denied by the crossbar but he still managed to play his part going forward, curling in the corner for the first, being involved in the build up for the second and firing in the cross which Mullin converted for his second of the game.

But it certainly wasn't a one-sided affair as Gravesend had Stanley on the backfoot for long periods without having the killer touch which sidelined top striker Charlie MacDonald might have provided.

The home side had two shots with one minute on the clock with Charlton on loan striker Onome Sodje testing Rob Elliot and Mark Rawle volleying onto the roof of the net.

Stanley struggled to get going on what was a bobbly pitch with the ball bouncing all over until they forced three corners on 36 minutes.

Roberts took each and, on the final one, defender Brad Johnson could only flick the ball onto the underside of his own crossbar and Andy Todd was on the line to force the ball over - his first Stanley goal.

Gravesend kept pressing while the Reds were outraged they didn't get a penalty for a trip on Ian Craney - but the referee had already ignored three appeals by the home side for handball so he was never going to give it.

Elliot did well to once more pull off another of his top saves after the break when Ross Smith's firm header looked destined for the back of the net but the keeper got down low and the defence somehow managed to scramble the ball away.

It was a good game to watch with everyone getting stuck in, the pitch making the bounce unpredictable and it was on a knife edge with Stanley having to do more defending than they have had to in a long time.

Roberts had a great chance to grab the second on the hour when he broke through unmarked but fired low instead of lifting the ball and Craig Holloway pushed his shot out. It did then fall for Mullin but he tried to place it and the Gravesend keeper was there again to deny him.

But all that was forgotten seven minutes later when a catalogue of errors on the edge of the area ended with the ball falling nicely for Mullin in front of the defence to slip the ball under Holloway for number two. Coleman had predicted it would be his striker's day before the game.

However, Gravesend were still dangerous with Andy Drury firing in some good balls from the right wing - one with Phil Edwards making a fantastic goalline clearance but the off-side flag had already gone up.

Roberts then came close to his wonder goal with his free kick which hit the woodwork but it wasn't long before Stanley were celebrating a third when the left winger played a great ball to Mullin after a short corner and he finished well for his 13th goal of the campaign.

Coleman was mad as, in injury time, Ross Smith got a free header from a Rob Watkins cross to get one back and they could have had another but Sodje headed straight into Elliot's arms.

But nothing could stop the Reds chalking up another memorable win - and, although long trips won't be a thing of the past in League One, Gravesend might be long forgotten.