GARY Taylor-Fletcher enjoyed a dream debut as he scored one and made one as Stanley coasted to their first victory in the Checkatrade EFL Trophy.

The Reds had lost their first North Group B game against Crewe 3-0 and needed a win at League One Chesterfield to maintain a firm interest in the competition, with a final group clash against Wolves Under 23s at Molineux next month.

And, despite the allowed six changes for both sides, Stanley were dominant with former Blackpool, Leicester and Huddersfield striker Taylor-Fletcher starting the scoring, while Terry Gornell celebrated a brace and Jordan Clark was also on target for the Reds in a 4-1 win.

The only disappointment for John Coleman’s side was there were only 976 at the Proact Stadium to see Stanley’s stunning show - with just one side of the ground open – as fans protest against the new format of the competition, which includes Premier and Championship Under 23 sides and group stages this season for the first time.

Coleman gave 17-year-old scholar Ross Sykes a second start in defence in this competition with West Brom loanee Callam Jones also getting a run-out for the Reds.

It could have been different if former Spireites keeper Aaron Chapman hadn’t kept a fierce strike from Dan Gardner out in the second minute.

Stanley took the lead in the 14th minute when Sean McConville’s shot was fumbled by keeper Lloyd Allinson and Taylor-Fletcher, who only signed on non-contract terms on Monday, was there to pounce and fire home on his debut.

Stanley made it two on 21 minutes when Taylor-Fletcher, now 35, found Gornell who turned and curled an effort into the top corner of the net.

The Reds pressed for more with captain for the night McConville trying his luck almost from the halfway line with a free kick but Allinson just got back to cover.

And it was 3-0 three minutes before the break when a Mark Hughes header was cleared off the line and it came to Clark who rifled home his first Stanley goal from 25 yards.

Chesterfield boss Danny Wilson made two changes at half-time and it was one of them, Kristian Dennis, who got the home side back in it with a low strike on 61 minutes.

But the home side’s joy was short-lived as Gornell found the far corner of the net on 66 minutes as the Reds celebrated a morale-boosting victory ahead of Saturday’s League Two clash at home to Cheltenham.

STANLEY: Chapman, Jones, Hughes, Sykes, Donacien, McConville, Hewitt, Lacey (Davies 57), Clark (McCartan 76), Gornell, Taylor-Fletcher (Eagles 54)

Subs: Pearson, Boco, Webb, Parish

CHESTERFIELD: Allinson, Liddle, Evatt, Gardner (Dennis 46), Nolan, Anderson, Humphreys (German 46), O’Shea (Mitchell 65), Maguire, Ariyibi, Ofeogbu

Subs: Simons, Beesley, Daly, Parkin