STANLEY’S 15-match unbeaten run came to a sudden end as they were beaten by a resurgent Newport County at Rodney Parade.

The relegation-threatened Welsh side ran out 1-0 winners, with Ryan Bird scoring the only goal of the game, to climb out of the bottom two and dent Accrington’s play-off aspirations.

The Reds were forced into one change for the game with captain Seamus Conneely unavailable due to the birth of his first child, but with the exception of an initial spell of Newport pressure John Coleman’s side settled well.

On an arid and abominable pitch, Stanley posed all of the threat in the first half but were unable to find a breakthrough.

That was largely down to County goalkeeper Joe Day, who was in inspired form to keep the visitors at bay. He turned Jordan Clark’s 25 yarder round the post inside the first 15 minutes before Shay McCartan slashed a half volley into the side-netting.

Day’s biggest test of the first period arguably came from his own player. McCartan cut in from the right and shot left footed, with the effort diverted goalwards off Joss Labadie. Day made a reaction save to spare the blushes of his skipper.

Newport’s threat in the final third proved to be minimal, with Sean Rigg shooting straight at Marek Rodak and Alex Samuel hammering wide.

But it continued to be a different story at the other end, with Omar Beckles arrowing a low strike wide and Matty Pearson heading a McCartan cross the wrong side of the post.

Though the half-time score was 0-0 League Two’s form side were well on top but it was a trend that was not to continue after the interval.

The outcome may have been different had Day not produced another wonderful save just after the restart. Billy Kee held the ball up on the left and pulled it back, Pearson dummied and Noor Husin hit the ball sweetly from the edge of the box.

Day’s response was equally impressive, turning the ball round the post for a corner.

The Reds looked on course for a third successive clean sheet until the 60th minute when they were undone. Mark Randall’s attempt from inside the box on the right looped up into the air off Rodak, with Bird on hand inside the six yard box to bundle over the line and send Rodney Parade into rapture.

The vociferous home crowd now sensed a chance for their team to continue a renaissance which had seen them go from 12 points from safety to within just one of the dotted line ahead of kick-off.

And they went close to extending their lead, with Rodak forced to turn over from Samuel as he looked for the home team’s second.

Stanley’s response never really materialised despite the introduction of Scott Brown, Jonny Edwards and Terry Gornell as a punishing run of fixtures, and the bone-hard surface, possibly took their toll.

Mark Hughes headed wide from a rare half chance before McCartan blasted a free-kick into the wall and Rodak came forward for a late set-piece.

But there was to be no late drama and no club record eighth away game unbeaten in the Football League for the Reds.