ACCRINGTON Stanley’s greater quality told as a super second half showing saw them sweep aside a valiant Hyde United.

A lacklustre first half had ended goalless but an Erico Sousa double and a Sam Finley strike helped John Coleman’s side overcome their Evo-Stik Premier hosts.

The non-league side had more than held their own in an even opening 45 minutes against a strong Stanley side.

But after the break the Reds were much improved and Sousa opened the scoring following a flowing move before Finley swept home a second.

Sousa added a third in the closing stages with a powerful volley to ensure a second successive 3-0 pre-season success following the Wham Stadium win over Huddersfield Town last weekend.

Stanley created the first chance of the night at Ewen Fields when Kayden Jackson played in Sousa on the left and the midfielder forced home keeper Peter Crook to palm the ball behind for a corner.

The Reds continued to do most of the attacking, Ross Sykes seeing a header tipped over by Crook while McConville curled a free kick wide.

Sousa, operating on the left then worked himself a yard of space but his shot was wayward.

Hyde began to come into the game and forced a couple of corners before they came desperately close to taking the lead.

Sousa was penalised for a high foot on the edge of the box and Gavin Rothery curled his effort against the inside of the post as Stanley survived.

Jordan Clark then came close to a goal at the other end when he turned in the box but he dragged his low effort wide of the far post.

Rothery came close again with another free kick but his low curling effort was well beaten away by Reds youngster Toby Savin.

That foul was the last action for the Reds trialist who was forced off with an injury as youngster Harry Perritt came on. The change prompted a reshuffle at the back as Harvey Rodgers dropped into the centre of defence and Perritt filled in at right back.

Jackson was pulling wide for the Reds in an effort to find space and he fired into the side netting just before the break after a neat one two with Clark. The frontman then curled an effort straight at Crook after neat play between Sousa and McConville as the sides went into the interval goalless.

The Reds broke the deadlock 10 minutes into the second half with a goal of real quality. Sousa finished off a flowing move involving the wideman, Jackson, McConville and Clark as Stanley moved the ball from left to right and back again before Sousa fired into the net from the edge of the box.

The goal lifted the visitors who began playing with more urgency. They doubled their lead on 62 minutes when Sam Finley swept home Sousa’s centre.

Stanley were now on top and Hyde rang the changes to try and get back into the contest.

But it was the visitors who threatened again with Sousa stinging the palms of Crook while Finley dragged a shot wide.

The visitors did get a third 14 minutes from time when Sousa powered home a volley from inside the box. The Portuguese ace had created the chance himself with a burst of pace down the left before he played in Jackson. The forward’s effort from a narrow angle was kept out by Crook but Sousa rifled home the rebound.

The Reds replaced senior stars Jackson and McConville in the final 10 minutes and one of the replacements, Brad Lynch, came close to a fourth but his driven volley was kept out by Crook as Stanley comfortably saw out the closing stages.

STANLEY: Toby Savin (Liam Isherwood 79), Harvey Rodgers, Will Wood (Kasom Shah 79), Trialist (Harry Perritt 35), Ross Sykes, Liam Nolan, Jordan Clark, Sam Finley, Kayden Jackson (Brad Lynch 82), Erico Sousa, Sean McConville (Alex O’Niel 79). Subs not used: None