A GREAT finish from Lutel James and a Paul Mullin brace gave Accrington Stanley a 3-1 win to ease then through to the Lancashire FA Marsden Trophy semi-final last night.

Lancaster City, who beat Darwen and Fleetwood Town to reach the quarter-finals, were reduced to 10 men midway through the first half when Chris Bennett was sent off for violent conduct.

Bennett had been fouled by Jonathan Smith but appeared to kick out at the centre half off the ball and the referee had no option but to issue a red card.

Stanley reaped the benefits of their advantage three minutes before the break when James, with his back to goal, turned and launched the ball into the top corner of the net from just outside the 18-yard box.

John Coleman's men missed a number of chances in the second half, with Andy Gouck narrowly missing the target on a couple of occasions and having one shot saved by the Lancaster keeper.

Mullin also struck the post but made no mistake on 50 minutes after beating the offside trap.

The striker latched on to a long punt downfield and finished well to double the Reds' advantage, and Mullin made it 3-0 nine minutes from time as he fired home from Dean Calcutt's inch-perfect cross on 81 minutes.

Andy Whittaker came off the substitutes' bench to grab a late consolation for the visitors with just five minutes remaining. There was a hint of offside when Whittaker received the ball but he was allowed to carry on, rounded Jamie Speare and slid the ball into the back of the net.

Coleman, who was delighted with the performances of Andy Procter and man-of-the-match Jonathan Smith, said: "The game was changed by Lancaster's sending off but we scored some good goals and played quite well, although we were disappointed to concede late on.

"But we created a lot of chances and, as holders of the trophy, we're delighted to be in the semi-finals and are hoping to retain it."

Coleman added that Mullin and Calcutt had sustained knocks from a couple of challenges but was confident they would be fit in time for Saturday's trip to Runcorn FC Halton.

The draw for the semi-finals will be made tomorrow night and the games will be played during the week commencing February 18, which means Stanley's trip to Whitby on February 19 will have to be re-arranged.

STANLEY: Speare; Howarth, Hollis (Brennan), Halford (Cavanagh), Smith; Calcutt (Payne), Gouck, Proctor, Knowles; Mullin, James