FOREST GREEN ROVERS 0

ACCRINGTON STANLEY 1

Seamus Conneely 56

ACCRINGTON Stanley’s trip up to the little club on the hill to face the team bottom of the Football League didn’t have too many high points, but it kept them in position to mount an ascent to the top of League Two.

Captain Seamus Conneely scored the only goal as the Reds overcame struggling Forest Green Rovers to make it two away wins in a week.

John Coleman’s side hadn’t visited the picturesque Gloucestershire town of Nailsworth for 11 years and had never been to the New Lawn, a ground perched at the end of a winding country lane.

The League Two new boys hadn’t won for eight games but that wasn’t apparent in the 90 minutes as they gave third placed Stanley a difficult afternoon.

Mark Cooper’s side started well, with Omar Bugiel only denied inside the box by a fine Jordan Thorniley tackle before Christian Doidge headed over the top.

With no Kayden Jackson in the squad, Stanley’s main goal threat came from Billy Kee but the in form striker was unable to cap an early counter with a finish, instead scuffing a shot that was no problem for Sam Russell.

Stanley enjoyed a good spell in the middle part of the first half, with Farrend Rawson heading at Russell, Sean McConville denied a penalty when he felt he was pulled down by Charlie Cooper in the box, and Jonny Edwards smashing over the bar with his left foot from the edge of the box after good work by Kee.

Rovers were largely containing their high flying visitors though, packing midfield and keeping chances to a minimum. Their main problem came in the final third, where a scuffed effort from left back Dan Wishart was as close as they came to troubling Aaron Chapman.

After the break Mark Hughes had to be on high alert to deny Doidge inside the box before the Reds were able to take control. The introduction of Scott Brown for Edwards gave more numbers in the middle of the park and Coleman’s men were soon in front.

The goal came just before the hour, with Janoi Donacien’s cross from the right intended for Kee but cleared by a defender to the edge of the box. Conneely isn’t renowned for his goalscoring prowess but he produced a crisp strike that cannoned off the inside of the right post and over the line to break the deadlock and give him his first goal of the season.

Now, as at Port Vale in midweek, it was about managing the game and Stanley set about their task well with McConville poking an effort at Russell after Kee had flicked on Conneely’s cross as they looked to extend their lead.

There were some alarms, with Doidge driving wide after turning Hughes inside the box before diminutive home midfielder Drissa Traore hit a 30 yard strike that glanced of the top of Chapman’s bar.

That was as close as Rovers would come, with the Reds running down the clock and keeping the ball with the guile of Brown and Kee proving crucial late on.

It was far from their best performance but another three points, coupled with defeat for leaders Notts County, leaves Stanley just two points off the top of the table.