ACCRINGTON Stanley continued their run of pre-season wins with a 1-0 victory over League One side Rochdale at the Store First Stadium.

Shay McCartan scored the only goal as the Reds notched a six friendly triumphs in a row.

The visitors made the early advances with Stanley keeper Ross Etheridge forced into a early save from Donal McDermott.

But the Reds grew into the game and were the width of the woodwork from taking the lead when Tom Davies headed a Josh Windass free kick against the post.

Windass was again involved as John Coleman’s side pressed to find the opener. Terry Gornell raced towards a ball forward and as keeper Josh Lillis advanced he took the striker down. Windass fired the resulting free kick straight at Lillis.

At the other end Keith Hill’s men saw their opportunities limited with Peter Vincenti squirming a scuffed effort straight at Etheridge.

With the score 0-0 at half time an increase in entertainment was needed and it came after the interval as the home team emerged on the front foot, as Windass twice went close.

Inevitable changes followed with Coleman taking the opportunity to give more game time to those named on the bench and one sub, Billy Kee, was soon denied a goal with a diving header.

The visiting fans were celebrating briefly when Joe Bunney rippled the net from Scott Tanzer’s cross but the ball was the wrong side of the post and the noise soon died down.

Instead it was the Stanley supporters celebrating as the Reds finally broke the deadlock when Piero Mingoia burst down the right. His shot was saved by Lillis but McCartan netted the rebound.

Sub keeper Jason Mooney was called upon to protect the advantage, tipping a McDermott free kick over before spreading himself to thwart Ian Henderson.

Stanley: Etheridge (Mooney), Trialist, Davies (Goulding), Wright (Buxton), Winnard, Mingoia (Bruna), Crooks (Pearson), Conneely (Barry), McConville (McCartan), Windass (Morgan), Gornell (Kee).