JOHN Coleman has a wealth of strikers but he will be hoping his whole team continues as they have started off this pre season - with everyone chipping in to steer Stanley to the Nationwide Conference.

It was only a pre-season friendly against a young Blackburn XI, who did however include Ewood's out of favour front man Egil Ostenstad, but Accrington will be hoping this is a sign of things to come.

Coleman has Lutel James, Paul Mullin, Simon Carden, Gary Williams, Lee Buggie and Dave Gray and more than capable of making an impact up front.

But although James got one in front of the 600 strong crowd at the Crown Ground, new midfielder Mike Marsh, defender Jonathan Smith and midfielder Steve Flitcroft got the others.

It was a good work out for both sides and a physical game which made for a good battle.

Ex-Liverpool man Marsh and Darren Dunning made it competitive in midfield while Steve Halford and Robbie Williams had their hands full with Norweigan international Ostenstad.

The wantaway striker did get on the scoresheet, getting away from the Reds backline to convert in the 43rd minute.

It was Blackburn who made the first breakthough on seven minutes, winger Jimmy Corbett beating the off-side trap to outpace the Reds defence and fire home.

Ostenstad set up fellow striker Marc Richards for the second on 16 minutes. He fired across the area and unmarked Richards pounced, although Stanley goalkeeper Jamie Speare might have done better.

James got one back for Stanley on 31 minutes to the delight of a large majority of the crowd when the ex-Bury man was left in a one-on-one with Rovers keeper Keiron Renton and James stuck his foot up to poke the ball home.

It was all-square on 41 minutes after Mullin tried to convert in a goalmouth scramble but Smith got the final touch to stab the ball into the net.

But Ostenstad then made his presence felt, a Corbett cross to the far post beating the two Stanley defenders and finding the Norweigan at the far post and he tucked the ball home to make it 3-2 at the break.

There were a few swaps and changes - Ostenstad leaving the action - and it was soon 4-2 when Rovers were awarded a debatable penalty which Richards converted on 51 minutes.

Marsh then scored a wonder goal, making something out of nothing to fire home from 30 yards out on the hour - and Stanley will be hoping there is more of the same from him this season.

And on 84 minutes Smith was fouled from a Marsh corner and Flitcroft, playing against the team-mates he left last summer, slotted the spot kick home.

ACCRINGTON STANLEY...4

Scorers: James 31, Smith 41, Marsh 61, Flitcroft 84

BLACKBURN ROVERS XI...4

Scorers: Corbett 7, Richards 26, 51, Ostenstad 43

STANLEY will take on a Burnley XI at the Crown Ground tonight, kick off at 7.30pm. The price is £5 for adults and £3 concessions.