ACCRINGTON Stanley boss John Coleman is already piling the pressure on his top goalscorer Paul Mullin to beat his 34-goal hit from this season.

Mullin enjoyed his highest-ever tally with a fantastic display this season - and scored two crucial final goals to help the Reds to treble success.

But more is now expected of him as John Coleman's side make a push for the Nationwide Conference next season.

"Coley is already saying to me 'You will not beat that next season', he is already winding me up," laughed the 28-year-old.

"But I don't mind the pressure. My aim every season is to get to 20, then when I got to 30 it was great and anything more was a bonus.

"I want to beat it next season and I don't mind the pressure.

"And if Coley brings in another forward next season I will have to keep scoring to keep my place!"

Mullin reckons his best goal of the season was the one against Barrow at Morecambe FC which helped Stanley on their way to a 2-0 Lancashire Marsden Cup victory. It was the first after a good cross by Peter Cavanagh.

"It wasn't the best goal I have ever scored or the most spectacular but it was the most important.

"It settled everyone's nerves and after that we were able to go on and get another even with ten men.

"That was a special final as it was a one-off and was played at a Conference ground."

Mullin also scored in the UniBond League Cup final second leg against Bradford at the Crown Ground after the Reds were trailing 1-0 from the first leg.

"That was good because of what had happened at their place with the two sendings off and it was heartbreaking when they got a goal so late on. So it was good to score."

And he also enjoyed his gaffer's goal in the 1-1 draw in the UniBond Challenge Shield at Burton. Coleman was getting stick because of a heated league clash earlier in the season but he came on and scored a late goal to take the tie into penalties which Stanley won.

"I had said to John the week before that it would be great if he scored as he got a lot of stick he didn't really deserve.

"His celebration was good as well as he whipped off his shirt and showed his lithe figure! There was just deadly silence!"

While the hat-trick of cups has been a huge boost, the season is tinged with disappointment that they finished sixth in the UniBond Premier League.

"We obviously wanted to win the league but we knew we were out of it a couple of months before the run-in.

"We have beaten the teams who finished above us though - Vauxhall, Emley, Lancaster and Worskop - we just need to get that consistency, especially against the sides below us.

"Some of the grounds aren't that great to go to but we have got to cope and I think we have learnt a lot this season."

But one thing the Stanley lads don't lack is team spirit.

"There are not big-time Charlies in our dressing room and we are all in it together.

"The lads who have come in this season have settled in so well. Cav (Peter Cavanagh) he was a new face and it must have been hard for him to suddenly become the captain but he has been great. There is no doubt he can play at a higher level.

"And Flickers (Steve Flitcroft) too. With no disrespect to the grounds we go to, it must have been hard for them coming from Liverpool and Blackburn into the UniBond. It is like living on another planet but they settled in straight away.

"And I have a sneaky suspicion Paul Burns won't retire at the end of the season. He is great in the dressing room and we would miss him but I think he will be there at pre season."

And then of course there is Mullin's partner up front Lutel James. The two hit it off from the start and have 59 goals between them.

"He shouts at me some times for not passing and I do the same to him but we have gelled. Hopefully we will score a bagful next season which will take us into the Conference."