ACCRINGTON STANLEY'S roller-coaster ride of a season continued last night when they put five past bemused Worksop Town.

John Coleman's side showed they could easily live without transfer-listed striker Gary Williams, who has gone on loan to Conference side Southport, as they went on the rampage.

Jonathan Smith, Paul Mullin, Lutel James and substitute Steven Flitcroft got the goals but it was by no means a walkover as Worksop created some good chances.

But the Stanley defence, which has conceded 22 goals in 11 games, held firm.

Stanley made the perfect start when centre half Smith, who was a tower at the back throughout the game, opened the scoring after just three minutes.

Full-back Paul Howarth sent over in inch-perfect cross from a free kick and Smith headed goalward only to see the effort come back out off the keeper's legs.

The young defender, though, made no mistake with the follow-up.

Stanley had all the play in the opening stages and it was no surprise when they went further ahead on 17 minutes with a goal no one - Paul Mullin included - could believe went in.

A Brett Baxter cross was trapped perfectly under the feet of Mullin just yards out. The Worksop defence froze and Mullin had all the time in the world to line up his shot.

Under no pressure he scuffed it, but the Worksop keeper Jamie Holmshaw couldn't get down for it in time.

Stanley lost their shape slightly for the remainder and Worksop get back into the game; a Darren Brookes header, which flashed wide, being their best chance.

They had a penalty appeal rightly turned down in the 40th minute, when Worksop striker Dean Cropper, after showing too much of the ball to Stanley keeper Jamie Speare, went down under the challenge of Smith.

Stanley went further ahead in controversial circumstances five minutes into the second half.

A quick throw-in was taken by Stanley on the half-way line despite the fact that the ref had appeared to blow for a free kick.

Russell Payne ran on to the throw and after good work down the left crossed to Mullin, unmarked on the edge of the area, who fired home.

Lutel James had the ball in the back of the net on the hour but the effort was ruled out for offside and Worksop's Andy Todd had a chance to pull a goal back for the visitors but he header flew into the side netting.

Team-mate Gary Townsend also tried his luck, this time from 30 yards, but his shot also went narrowly wide.

With 20 minutes to go, James scored the best goal of the night, running on to a powerful Smith header from the back and coolly slotting past the advancing keeper using the outside of his boot.

Four minutes later it was five when Steven Flitcroft found himself unmarked and with all the time in the world on the edge of the area.

The ball came out to him after a James challenge on the keeper and he lined it up and curled it home.

The Worksop defence were poor all night, and it was difficult to see why they lay sixth in the UniBond Premier Division.

Stanley's attacking prowess spoke for itself but the defence was also impressive, rarely giving the visiting forwards a sniff all night.

RESULT: ACCRINGTON STANLEY...5 WORKSOP...0

STANLEY meet Altrincham at the Crown Ground on Sunday.