ACCRINGTON STANLEY increased their lead at the top of the UniBond Premier Division to eight points with a convincing 3-0 victory over mid-table Gainsborough Trinity at the Crown Ground.

The Reds took the lead thanks to a Paul Mullin header from a Lutel James cross on seven minutes.

John Coleman's side were in control for majority of the game but didn't make sure of the points until late in the game.

A late double from James and Mullin in the 84th and 89th minutes respectively secured the Reds all three points.

New signing Rory Prendergast, a £7,500 buy from UniBond Premier rivals Bradford Park Avenue, was the star man and he rounded off an accomplished performance by providing the pass for Mullin's second goal a minute from time.

Coleman said: "The first goal was a really good goal actually Dean Calcutt played a diagonal ball out to Lutel on the wing and he has taken the keeper out with his cross to be honest and Paul was there to head home.

"Lutel got one himself later on, he rounded the keeper well and then Rory played Paul in for the third."

Prendergast, in his first start for the club, made an assured home debut, said Coleman. "Rory was a constant threat throughout," he said. "He came on as a sub in his first game and he did enough in that game to warrant a starting place and he didn't let himself down.

"He plays out on the left wing and he is very direct. He is what we wanted.

"I think now we have the three best wingers in the league in him, Russell Payne and Dean Calcutt.

"And they are all different players as well. So they give us different options."

Coleman was delighted after the game to see that second-placed Stalybridge Celtic has only managed a 2-2 draw at home to Bradford Park Avenue, although third and fourth placed Worksop Town and Vauxhall Motors both recorded wins.

"It is great to extend our lead at the top obviously but we can't control what happens to the other teams or what they do in their games.

"We can look at that after the match but during our games we just have to do what we can and keep winning games.

"I certainly would have taken being eight points clear at this stage at the start of the season and I will take in may as well.

ACCRINGTON STANLEY...3

GAINSBOROUGH...0