SEAN Maguire paid tribute to the patience of his team-mate Piero Mingoia following Accrington Stanley's 2-1 win over Cambridge United.

The former Watford man, a reliable lieutenant of former boss James Beattie, had been out of the first-team picture for almost two months before being recalled for Stanley's 2-1 FA Cup scalp of Notts County last Tuesday.

His performance convinced current Accrington manager John Coleman to keep faith with the diminutive winger for Saturday's game and it was rewarded with a match-winning brace from the 23 year-old as the Reds moved to within four points of the play-off places.

"Piero has trained really hard, he is a quality player and he has got his place back in the team and has taken it with two goals," said Maguire.

"He was brilliant. I have got to know Piero over the last few months and he has worked really hard in training.

"Like all players he needs confidence and hopefully these two goal will mean his is full of confidence and, when he is like this, he is difficult to stop."

Mingoia opened the scoring with his first goal of the season ten minutes before the interval as John O'Sullivan's floated cross found the wide-man at the back post and he coolly volleyed home from a tight angle.

He doubled the lead after cutting in from the left and seeing his defected strike from 20 yards wrong-foot visiting goalkeeper Chis Dunn to put the Reds firmly in control.

Cambridge defender Michael Nelson halved the deficit seconds before stoppage time with a superb strike from 25 yards but Stanley held firm for a seventh win in their last eight matches at the Store First Stadium.

Mingoia's goals were almost overshadowed by a wonder goal from Maguire, but the West Ham United loanee saw his spectacular 25 yard curler tipped onto the bar by Dunn.

“I was reeling to celebrate but the keeper got his finger tips to it. I was gutted as my dad Paddy had come over to watch and it would have been nice to score for him,” the forward said.