IN 91 consecutive Accrington Stanley appearances Tom Aldred has often been a heroic figure, but at Exeter City the centre back reached new heights to send the Reds home with all three points.

An improbable goal line clearance from the 24-year-old was followed by a stoppage time winner at the other end to give John Coleman’s side a 2-1 victory and a glimpse of why 2015 might just be a very successful year.

That Aldred hadn’t trained all week through illness and wasn’t expected to travel to Devon made it all the more remarkable – the former Carlisle man hadn’t missed a first team game since March 2013 and had no intention of ending that run.

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The virus did deprive Coleman of stalwart Dean Winnard but the Reds started well against an Exeter side only outside the play-off places on goal difference before kick off.

A Sean Maguire strike looped up off a defender before keeper James Hamon was called upon to push out a shot from Lee Molyneux and Nicky Hunt hammered an effort over the top as the Reds looked to make an early impact.

Ryan Harley had City’s best early chance, blazing over, but generally Hamon was the busier keeper as he made another save from Molyneux.

As half time approached things changed and Paul Tisdale’s men should have been in front when Harley rounded Luke Simpson and inexplicably stalled and took the ball wide, allowing a defender to intervene.

It was an all too brief reprieve for Stanley, who conceded a minute later. The visiting defence dealt with the initial corner but Harley was allowed to cross again from the left and the prolific Tom Nichols got to the near post first to head home his ninth goal of the season.

A half time deficit was perhaps harsh on the Reds and they began the second period determined to turn things around.

Over an hour had gone before Stanley equalised with a superb goal. Andy Procter intercepted on half way and set Molyneux away down the left and the Crewe loanee put a sensational ball into the box. The tireless Shay McCartan had made the right run and dispatched the ball beyond Hamon for his fifth goal of the season.

Now the sides traded blows, with Simpson saving from Arron Davies and Hamon blocking a header from Rob Atkinson.

The stage was set for Aldred’s starring role. With two minutes remaining Nichols thought he’d scored again when his low strike from inside the area beat Simpson. Aldred had other ideas, flinging himself at the ball on the line to send it the right side of the post and out for a corner.

Stanley defended the set piece and less than five minutes later won a corner of their own. The ball was partially cleared before Maguire found Kal Naismith with a super reverse pass. The Scot, on for Molyneux, saw his venomous blast into the box repelled but the ball sprung to Aldred and the defender’s shot was too hot for Hamon to handle. 2-1.

For a man who spent the week in his sick bed, it was the perfect medicine.