ACCRINGTON Stanley moved to within three points of League Two leaders Luton Town and back to second in the League Two table with a battling win over in form Cambridge United.

Kayden Jackson’s goal proved to be enough as the Reds made it six successive home league wins and kept themselves firmly in the automatic promotion picture.

On a bitterly cold East Lancashire afternoon a Reds side showing two changes started brightly with both Seamus Conneely and the returning Sean McConville seeing early shots blocked by defenders.

But it was the visitors who caused the first real alarm when former Stanley full back Brad Halliday crossed for Liam O’Neil and his header came back off the bar.

John Coleman’s team had plenty of possession and territory but few clear chances with Jackson firing into the side netting with his left foot and Callum Johnson heading a McConville corner over the top.

In contrast Cambridge were asking questions of the home defence and looked every inch the side that had won all three of their games since sacking Shaun Derry. Another header from O’Neil caused problems from a Medy Elito corner before Uche Ikpeazu threaded in Jevani Brown and his shot was well parried by Aaron Chapman.

Visiting keeper David Forde was tested before the break though when Conneely found McConville and the wideman, back after three games out with a leg injury, cut in from the left and stung the custodian’s hands with a fierce shot.

A tight affair looked like one goal might settle it and the visitors thought they’d got it after the restart. Ikpeazu found himself one on one and powered forward but Chapman came to Stanley's rescue, flicking out a boot to keep his low effort out.

Instead it was the Reds who were soon celebrating. There seemed to be little danger for defender George Taft when a high ball reached the edge of the area but the centre back dawdled and was out thought and out muscled by Jackson who nicked the ball, ran beyond him into the box and round Forde to slot in his 13th of the season from a tight angle.

United were not about to let that be it and set about looking for an equaliser.

Chapman made another good save to push a shot from Billy Waters round the post before Halliday dragged wide when well placed on the right but largely Stanley’s defence was up to the challenge despite caretaker manager Joe Dunne throwing on three attacking substitutes.

In fact Stanley could have extended their lead when Billy Kee met a McConville corner with a firm header but he uncharacteristically sent it over the top into the Clayton End.

The defence then did their job to secure a third clean sheet in four matches and a ninth win in 11 attempts.

Results elsewhere saw Luton drop points while second placed Wycombe lost to Morecambe.

Stanley are in second spot, four points clear of the play-off places and 12 ahead of eighth place with 12 games to go.