WHAT Accrington Stanley supporters lack in numbers, they more than make up for in unconditional love.

The Reds have sold just 118 season tickets. On a day when neighbours Blackburn Rovers or Burnley were not in action and England's Euro 2008 qualifier against Israel didn't kick-off until 5pm, Saturday's attendance was the lowest home crowd this season.

They are figures that smack of an horrendous apathy from the town towards its football club.

Yet apathy is not a word that can be attributed to the 1,000 plus loyal supporters who got behind their team from the first whistle to the last to act as John Coleman's 12th man and raise the Reds from the foot of the Football League.

The throng behind the goal in the newly covered Sophia Khan Stand, more commonly known as the Clayton End terrace, banged their drum and sang their hearts out for 90 minutes and beyond.

Even when Coleman emerged for his post-match press conference at least 10 minutes after the final whistle, they were still lauding their team.

"A lot's been said about the crowd and myself and the chariam have made a vow not to worry about it now and just worry about the ones who are turning up because they are the ones that matter," said the Stanley manager.

"The fans have been magnificent and have been since I was here.

"They made a big difference to us today. They've supported us, stuck by us and they got their rewards."

Coleman's men indeed gave them plenty to cheer.

Two-goal heroes Andy Procter and Paul Mullin will get the plaudits, but Saturday's resounding win over fellow strugglers Grimsby Town was all about team-work; defending from the front, attacking from the back.

Each player had their say in securing three much-needed points.

Confidence, also, played it's part.

When Grimsby pulled a goal back early in the second half to make it 2-1, there were fears of a repeat of Tuesday night's Johnstone's Paint Trophy exit, when Stanley surrendered a 2-0 lead at home to Oldham to eventually bow out of the competition.

But Mullin, a player who has regularly produced the goods when it has mattered in recent seasons, most notably the winner at Woking to secure the Reds' return to the Football League two seasons ago, was on hand calm any nerves.

Stanley may occupy one of the least envied positions in the division, but how many managers would trade places with John Coleman just to have Mullin in their armoury?

Several have tried, and failed, to encourage the Reds to part with their prized asset who, like a fine wine, just gets better and better with age. A vintage red.

After the 33-year-old made it 2-0 three minutes into the second half, the striker was clinical to restore the two-goal cushion, less than 15 minutes after an unmarked Paul Bolland had reduced the defecit, and all but wrap up their first home win of the season.

Homegrown hero Procter bookended it, firing in the fourth with a bullet header in stoppage time after opening the scoring from the penalty spot before the half-hour.

He now find himself in the unlikely position of being the team's joint top leading scorer, alongside Mullin, with three so far.

It was an all-action performance for the 24-year-old former Great Harwood midfielder, who was effective in a fluid midfield diamond formation that quickly got to grips with Grimsby's five-man midfield to create openings in and around the box.

Roscoe D'Sane was unlucky to hook the ball over the bar after getting on the end of Mullin's flicked header, Peter Cavanagh bent a free kick for a trip on David Brown around the wall and goalkeeper Phil Barnes did well to prevent the ball from curling into the top left-hand corner, then D'Sane turned provider with a ball in from the right but Mullin stabbed wide at the near post.

With lone striker Isaiah Rankin getting no change from Robbie Williams, Grimsby boss Alan Buckley made an early change, withdrawing Danny Boshell and bringing Andy Taylor off the bench to partner Rankin up front in a 4-4-2 formation.

A more attack-minded approach almost paid immediate dividends as Cavanagh headed out Justin Whittle's long throw-in six yards out, the ball dropped for Paul Bolland, who fired a dipping right-foot volley narrowly over the bar.

But now matched man-for-man in midfield, Stanley made better use of the ball and took the lead just before the half-hour.

John Miles whipped a free kick in from the right, it seemed to have missed everybody but Procter sprinted in at the far post.

In full view of the referee, James Hunt pushed the midfielder in the back and a penalty was duly awarded.

Coleman - a self-confessed Liverpool fan - didn't adopt the Rafael Benitez approach to spot-kicks and did allow the penalised player to take the penalty.

Procter, who scored from the spot against Oldham in midweek, recovered from his fall to send Barnes the wrong way and score Stanley's first home goal Stanley in the league this season.

Grimsby were fired up for a recovery in the second half and Cavanagh executed a great goal saving challenge on Bolland.

The Reds were soon back on the front foot as Procter took the ball forward.

With Brown and Mullin either side of him, he sprayed the ball left to Brown.

With the prospect of trying to shoot from a tight angle, he unselfishly crossed for an unmarked Mullin to head into an exposed net at the far post.

But the 2-0 lead was reduced just before the hour when Stanley switched off at the back.

Tom Newey got to the byline and picked out Bolland at the near post to send a header beyond an unprotected Kenny Arthur.

Substitute Taylor brought a low save from Arthur then Bolland, again unmarked, hooked the ball onto the top of the crossbar as the Mariners searched an equaliser.

Branch took the pressure of the defence with an intelligent ball over the top for D'Sane, who cut in from the left and struck it low but straight at Barnes.

The introduction of Shaun Whalley on the right brought fresh legs to Stanley's attacking build-ups, and it was from his testing delivery that Mullin grabbed a second.

The defence failed to deal with the near post cross and Mullin pounced to rifle the ball through a sea of bodies.

Whalley then set up a chance for Jay Harris with a short corner but the midfielder's first-time strike was always rising.

The duo had the chance to combine again but Whalley's square ball was too awkward for Harris to make the most of a chance on the edge of the box.

Two minutes into the five of stoppage time, Procter punished a superb right-wing cross from substitute Leam Richardson with a powerful header.