The only thing worthy of note about Accrington Stanley’s New Year’s Eve trip to Crewe Alexandra was the final score.

Two sides desperately short of form and confidence took to the field at Gresty Road and thanks to Billy Kee’s first half header – and a stroke of overdue luck – Stanley ended a five hour wait for a goal and a nine match winless run in League Two.

Between them the teams had won two of their last 20 matches, meaning it was never likely to be a vintage encounter. A Reds side showing three changes must have feared the worst at first as the Alex pinned them back in the early stages with Billy Bingham firing over and Oliver Turton putting the ball on a plate for Chris Dagnall inside the box only for the striker to let it run through his legs in comic fashion.

Slowly but surely though John Coleman’s side began to assert themselves with Shay McCartan benefitting from an error from keeper Ben Garratt and finding the side netting before Mark Hughes lofted the ball over the keeper and James Jones was forced to clear from inside his six yard box.

There was little quality on display in the final third, especially by the home side, and it was summed up with Zak Vyner gave the ball away to Dagnall only for him to shank an effort horribly wide.

Stanley looked the more potent and Garratt was forced to turn the ball round the post after Kee had helped on a McCartan free kick before the visiting striker nodded narrowly over from Sean McConville’s corner and Scott Brown shot over the top with team mates either side of him from a counter attack.

It wasn’t an entirely alarm free half, with Harry Davis heading wide for the hosts and Matty Pearson stabbing clear after Alex Kiwomya had beaten both Janoi Donacien and keeper Aaron Chapman down the left, but the Reds deserved to take the lead.

Kee had been on the scoresheet the last time they found the net, in a 3-0 cup win at Woking at the start of the month, so it was fitting he ended the drought though he owes a debt of gratitude to Garratt. Kee’s header from another McConville corner was hardly firm but the Crewe keeper could only get a finger to the ball and divert it past the man on the line and into the net.

The second half was now about preserving the lead and keeping a clean sheet for the first time since that win at Kingfield in the cup. It was uneventful early on but there was a scare when Dagnall was put through one on one only to be denied by an offside flag.

Chapman had been a virtual spectator but had to earn his money before the half was out. When George Cooper made his way into the box on the left just after the hour mark the Stanley keeper was quick to spread himself and divert the ball behind for a corner off his legs.

John O’Sullivan could have doubled Stanley’s lead with a far post header that flew wide before Chapman had to save from sub Callum Ainley and Cooper drove the rebound into the side netting.

After a wretched run, Stanley’s luck finally held as the home fans ended the game booing their side and the visiting players were able to celebrate with the travelling contingent.

The performance won’t live long in the memory but the result could well be a turning point.