KAL Naismith overcame a heavy knock to fire Stanley to a much-needed first win of the season.

The Scot had taken a bang to his backside with nine minutes to go and was struggling to play on as Stanley were drawing 2-2 with Tranmere.

Boss James Beattie urged him on from the sidelines to just get in the box and see what happens and a minute later he did just that – and was celebrating the winner.

With just eight minutes remaining, Adam Buxton belted in a free kick which keeper Peter Brezovan could only fumble and Naismith was on hand to poke home the winner to the relief of every Stanley fan.

As the games passed, there were worries that Stanley’s form of last season would repeat itself – they didn’t win for the first 12 league games of the previous campaign before recovering for a 15th placed finish.

But the Reds showed character and resilience in their clash with Tranmere to come back from 2-1 down in the final 20 minutes to secure that vital first win – and now they can build on that and move up the table.

It was always going to be a tough task against Tranmere who were relegated from League One last season and did have last season’s Stanley loan striker Kayode Odejayi and former Premier League striker Jason Koumas in their ranks – although both started on the bench.

Stanley gave a debut to the returning midfielder Andy Procter and it was a welcome boost to have the player who was part of the Reds team who rose from the Conference into League Two back at the Store First Stadium.

Beattie’s team started well and, like in their three games, they got off to the flyer with an early goal.

Naismith was tripped by defender Janoi Donacien in the area and referee Keith Hill immediately pointed to the spot on seven minutes.

Winger Naismith had been the regular penalty taker until he missed a last gasp spot kick at Cheltenham and it was James Gray who was given the nod.

Gray’s fierce spot kick found the top corner of the net although Tranmere keeper Brezovan did get a hand to it.

From then on in the first half Stanley were in control without any clear cut chances for either side although Naismith did try a 20 yard strike which the Rovers stopper held onto.

Marcus Carver also got to a loose high ball in the area before Brezovan on the stroke of half-time but could only guide it wide.

Stanley needed to hold on and needed a good start to the second half but, within seconds of the restart much to Beattie’s disappointment, Tranmere were back on level terms.

Troublesome winger Abduli Baggie ran onto a through ball from Max Power, beat the offside trap and the winger slotted it through Joe Lumley’s legs.

Winger Baggie started to have an impact on the game, going on threatening runs and playing dangerous balls into the box and he got his second on 70 minutes when Stanley lost the ball in midfield and Tranmere pounced.

Eliot Richards played Baggie through and the Sierra Leone wideman once again beat the offside trap, got the better of the keeper and slotted home.

Most Stanley fans must have feared the worst after only picking up one point from their last five games and squandering leads in the past.

But Gray and Marcus Carver never stopped running and battling up front and thanks to them they got the equaliser 12 minutes from time.

A long throw was flicked on by the energetic Carver and Gray was there to pounce at the far post and slot home a morale-boosting equaliser.

It was Stanley’s turn to be on the front foot and the Naismith’s winner came just four minutes later much to the celebrations of the Stanley fans who couldn’t quite believe that they had turned it around.

There was then an agonising eight minutes plus injury time for the Reds to hold on and it was nail-biting times but they were never seriously troubled and Beattie and his team at last could celebrate that first win of the season which lifted them off the bottom of the table.