JAMES Beattie may not have been present in the Accrington Stanley dugout but as James Gray flicked the ball beyond AFC Wimbledon goalkeeper and into the net to win the club’s first game since the manager’s departure his presence was very much felt.

Less than 24 hours after Beattie left the Store First Stadium by mutual consent, the player that the former England striker has brought on leaps and bounds proved to be the difference between the teams and dedicated his winner to his former boss.

Interim manager Paul Stephenson named the same side that Beattie had selected to beat Tranmere seven days earlier and none of the shock of the previous evening’s events came across in a first half performance that saw the Reds have much the better of the play.

Stephenson’s side were full of energy early on and though they didn’t test keeper James Shea they made the running, with Marcus Carver and Rob Atkinson both heading off target before captain Luke Joyce drove a shot wide after Andy Procter had cut a Piero Mingoia cross back to him.

The Dons possess one of the most potent attacks in League Two but Adebayo Akinfenwa and Matt Tubbs were feeding off scraps with the former shackled and the latter off colour as he fired an early chance wide.

Shea was called into action before the break as Procter dug out a cross which Gray attempted to bring down in the box only for the former Arsenal youngster to race from his line and smother.

After the interval the visitors were more of an attacking threat but then it was the turn of the Stanley defence to catch the eye. A Sean Rigg flick from a corner dropped to Tubbs and his strike came down off the bar with Mingoia alive enough to smash it clear off the line before keeper Joe Lumley pushed out a shot from the dangerous Tom Beere.

Stanley were still making chances of their own though, with Gray sliding a low effort inches wide of the post before Procter arched one high and wide as he looked for his first goal since his return to the club.

The Reds seemed to be lacking a little something in the final third, though Shea was doing his best to ensure he got his clean sheet bonus with a gallop from his penalty box and brave header to stop Gray latching onto Procter’s excellent through ball.

A late Wimbledon goal might have broken spirits but the usually prolific Tubbs failed to add to his seven goals when his 82nd minute curling shot bent around the outside of the post.

As is so often the case, a goal followed at the other end and there was nothing wrong with Stanley’s sharpness as they took the lead. The excellent Adam Buxton trotted forward from left back and threaded an inviting ball into the area for Gray. The 22-year-old had netted twice against Tranmere and continued his hot streak as he beat Shea to the ball and lofted it beyond him into the net for his fifth goal of the season.

Every outfield player joined the celebrations but they were soon urged to concentrate by Stephenson, whose warning was proved to be right.

A first clean sheet since March and a second successive win was secured by a wonderful save from Lumley who pushed out a powerful Alan Bennett header in stoppage time.