STANLEY boss John Coleman was left purring after seeing his side demolish Chesterfield with a dominate and stylish display in the Checkatrade Trophy.

The Reds lost their first Northern Group B encounter 3-0 at home to Crewe, but they kept themselves in with a shout of progressing thanks to a debut strike from Gary Taylor-Fletcher, two goals from Terry Gornell and a stunner by Jordan Clark.

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The 4-1 win sees all three teams level on three points, with Coleman’s side travelling to Wolves Under-23s in their final fixtures at the start of next month.

“It’s very rare that everything comes together at once like it did in the first half and some of the football we played was breathtaking,” he said after the thumping win at the Proact Stadium on Tuesday night.

“You’ve got to give the players credit. There were a few changes and I thought we showed a great willingness to pass the ball and scored some fantastic goals.

“Overall it was a really professional performance.”

Coley was understandably delighted with the impact of experienced striker Taylor-Fletcher, who signed on non-contract terms on Monday.

“You couldn’t have asked for a better start for Gary,” said the manager. “He will be shocked at the way we played and will be delighted to come into a team that plays like that, “We know we’ve got that in us and that’s why we were disappointed with ourselves on Saturday (at Cambridge), that we didn’t pass the ball as well as we can.

“I know you could say it was a different game, they (Chesterfield) were trying a few things out and we were allowed a bit more time and space on the ball.

“But you’ve still got to be able to pass it and I know we can, and that’s why it was very disappointing that we went very much route one in periods on Saturday in the second half.”

Coleman admitted he had worked with his squad before the trip to south Yorkshire to remind them of the style that has served them so well in the past.

He added: “We tried to highlight the importance of the midfield getting on the ball and showing for the ball, and for the back four to be prepared to pass it to them and not panic.

“When we do that we can get on the half turn. We’ve got players like Jordan Clark and Sean McConville, obviously Gary Taylor-Fletcher coming in, and Terry (Gornell), who I thought was magnificent tonight.

“We’ve got players who are a real handful going forward, and then you add Chris Eagles into the equation and Shay McCartan, and you haven’t even used Rommy (Boco).

“So we have got the talent and the firepower going forward but we need to get them on the ball.”

Coleman also explained how he and his assistant Jimmy Bell are trying to give the players confidence so they will play without fear.

He said: “We had some great interchange and great vision.

“It’s difficult to coach inventiveness - it’s got to be off the cuff - but you’ve got to encourage people to try things, not be scared to make mistakes and in the last third express themselves.

“We certainly did that.”