JOHN Coleman cut a delighted figure after Accrington Stanley secured their Football League status for the ninth successive season.

Stanley are now mathematically safe from the League Two drop after drawing 1-1 at relegation-threatened Hartlepool United on Tuesday night.

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Josh Windass fired Coleman’s side in front in the 38th minute with a goal-of-the-season contender.

But they had to settle for a share of the spoils after former Premier League striker Marlon Harewood equalised 10 minutes from the end.

Stanley boss Coleman, who led the club into the Football League in 2006, said: “I am delighted to secure our league status but you have to give Hartlepool credit for putting us under a lot of pressure in the second half.

“It was a difficult game to control and we stood up to them.

“I am delighted we have stayed up, it is testament to the players as they have done it again against all odds.

“In the first half, it was probably the best we have played since I have been here. We were determined not to roll over for anyone.”

Stanley are now 12 points above second-from-bottom Cheltenham Town going into their final three games of the campaign, the first of which comes on Saturday at home to play-off bound Stevenage.

Cheltenham won 3-1 at home to Cambridge United on Tuesday to haul themselves off the foot of the table and move within one point of third-from-bottom Hartlepool.

The team now rooted to the basement are Tranmere Rovers after their 1-0 defeat at Mansfield Town on the same night.

Coleman added: “Ronnie (Moore, Hartlepool boss) is a good friend of mine and the last thing I want to see is them go down but Micky Adams (Tranmere boss) is a good friend of mine as well and I don’t want to see them go down either.

“But we won’t be a pushover for anyone and we showed that.”