STANLEY hero Jamie Clarke scored his first senior hat-trick to end a run of four successive league defeats for the Reds on Sunday against Grimsby.
The 20-year-old, who is on loan from Blackburn Rovers, got on the end of a flowing move on 11 minutes to finish well and then scored two superb solo goals on 59 and 84 minutes to give the Reds a 3-1 win and a vital three points.
The Mariners had equalised on 14 minutes when a back pass bounced off keeper Ian Dunbavin's knee and Adam Proudlock pounced to score.
"Jamie's goals were fantastic. He was outstanding," said boss John Coleman, with his side fighting a relegation battle alongside fellow strugglers Grimsby.
"It is a mixture of relief and elation to get a win as we seem to have been stuck on 19 points for ages.
"We needed that - we have stopped the bleeding, are out of intensive care but are still in hospital."
Clarke's hat-trick made up for a series of misses on Boxing Day when Stanley slumped to a 2-0 defeat by Chester.
Their main striker Ryan Lowe was the double hero - firing home in the 33rd minute and sending Ian Dunbavin the wrong way from the penalty spot on 59 minutes.
But Clarke was guilty of missing a number of opportunities as the Reds struggled in front of goal.
"We are in a rut," admitted Coleman after that game. "We are in a relegation battle."
Full match reports in this week's Observer, available on Tuesday 30 December
