BILLY Kee scored within 61 seconds of going on as a substitute as Accrington Stanley survived a rough examination last night at the Crown Ground.

With the memories still fresh from Saturday’s glamour FA Cup tie with Fulham – and the legs still heavy – Stanley had to work hard on their return to the bread and butter of their play-off push.

It was hard for them, make no mistake and it was a shame that only 1,279 – including a couple of hundred making the mammoth trip from Aldershot – could be bothered to make their way to the Crown for a huge clash between play-off rivals.

Stanley look the real deal. The Shots are right in that top seven and are a good side – they barely deserved even their consolation goal last night – and that came from a bizarre penalty.

But Andy Procter’s opener and Kee’s star strike really did give the Reds just what they deserved.

Stanley, after a disjointed opening, bared their teeth on 14 minutes as Jimmy Ryan cut in from the right and tested Mikhael Jaimez-Ruiz, who had to dive right before the most theatrical of punches away.

It was a decent stop and suggested that that League Two rarity, a Venezuelan goalkeeper, had settled into the Crown Ground rather easier than Fulham did at the weekend.

But the man wearing tights with the exotic name was beaten on 20 minutes by an exotic finish from Symes. But sadly for Stanley, the post rescued Jaimez-Ruiz as Symes back-heeled Luke Joyce’s corner towards goal only to look on in disbelief as the ball rebounded to safety.

The Reds were on the front foot but were almost caught out when Oliver Bozanic threaded a ball through for Marvin Morgan but Dean Bouzanis cleared the danger.

Another Ryan cross caused panic when Jaimez-Ruiz spilled the ball when under no pressure and it seemed the goal was coming.

It did on the half hour when Ryan again was the instigator with a lovely ball in and Procter chested down, stepped away from ex-Morecambe defender Chris Blackburn and fired home past the vexed Venezuelan.

Aldershot came out brighter after the break and Marlon Jackson broke well seconds after the restart and was only stopped by an Edwards tackle.

The Reds were made to pay for their earlier missed chances when Sandell fired home a penalty which infuriated Stanley.

But there was little referee Anthony Taylor could do when Phil Edwards, under no pressure in his own box, inexplicably slipped and then grabbed hold of the ball.

The visitors were annoyed five minutes later when Taylor booked Bozanic for something and nothing.

Yet the official then missed Blackburn almost removing Symes’ shirt in the box as they went for a long throw.

Anywhere else on the pitch it’s a free kick. In the box, Taylor and so many other officials seem to discover a blind spot.

But Stanley were rocked and when Jackson scorched clear of a flat-footed defence Bouzanis saved well, although the striker really should have scored.

However, Kee was the hero 61 seconds after replacing the hopelessly out of sorts Miles.

The striker’s first touch was to collect a Luke Joyce pass and the second was to slide the ball under Jaimez-Ruiz to restore Stanley’s lead.

Managers really can appear to be the stock of geniuses at times, especially when their decisions pay off so spectacularly. The Shots grafted but Procter almost made it 3-1 late on.

Not even five minutes of added time could spoil the night for Stanley – they are on fire at the moment.