SEAN McConville claimed a hat-trick as Accrington Stanley demolished Macclesfield Town this afternoon to maintain their unbeaten start to the League Two season.

Stanley, who went into the game without injured former Macc striker Craig Lindfield, were ahead in the 29th minute as Ray Putterill dribbled to the by-line on the right and his low cross was turned home by a stretching McConville at the far post.

McConville had scored only one goal in 18 previous months in the Football League but he had his second of the game just nine minutes later as Putterill hooked the ball on and the winger reacted quickly to control and find the net.

There remained some debate about who should be awarded Stanley's third in the 73rd minute, but McConville was credited with the goal and took the matchball at the end after his left-wing cross was deflected past keeper Jose Veiga by defender Paul Morgan's glancing header.

Stanley: Ian Dunbavin; Jon Bateson, Phil Edwards, Sean Hessey (Andrew Owens 80), Dean Winnard; Charlie Barnett (Luke Joyce 70), Andy Procter; Ray Putterill, Jimmy Ryan, Sean McConville; Rory Boulding (Andy Parkinson 56). Subs not used: Alex Cisak, Leam Richardson, Peter Murphy, Chris Turner.

Macclesfield: Jose Veiga; Shaun Brisley, Nat Brown, Hamza Bencherif (Paul Morgan 46), Carl Tremarco; Paul Bolland, Matt Hamshaw, Sam Wedgbury; Emile Sinclair, Tyrone Barnett, Vinny Mukendi (Colin Daniel 54). Subs not used: Jack Cudworth, Izak Reid, Lewis Chalmers, Ross Draper, Jason Beardsley.

Referee: Craig Pawson.

Attendance: 1,371.