ACCRINGTON Stanley ended 2014/15 with a win after a rousing second half turnaround against Mansfield at the Store First Stadium.

Strong half time words from manager John Coleman prompted a comeback from 1-0 down that saw the Reds convincing 2-1 victors.

Coleman made two changes from the 4-0 thrashing at Dagenham with Nicky Hunt and Terry Gornell returning but the Reds made a sluggish start to proceedings as the visitors crafted the early chances.

Reggie Lambe flicked the ball over the bar before Junior Brown shot wide and Jack Thomas drove an effort straight at Scott Davies as Adam Murray’s men looked to take the early advantage.

At the other end Gornell headed a Sean Maguire cross wide before seeing a shot blocked as the Reds laboured in the final third.

In truth it was a terrible first 45 minutes of football but the visitors took the lead six minutes from the break with a high quality finish from Jamie McGuire. The midfielder capitalised on a poor back pass from Josh Windass, hammering the ball past Davies to make it 1-0.

Moments later Stanley created their best chance as Luke Joyce’s header from a Windass corner was deflected and cleared off the line.

The home supporters were distinctly quiet as the visiting fans, many dressed as bananas, enjoyed themselves at half time but the Clayton End were soon singing as Stanley began the second period with a renewed sense of purpose.

It took just two minutes to find a leveller, with midfielder Seamus Conneely once again proving himself to be in the right place at the right time. Piero Mingoia crossed invitingly from the right for Windass to get a header on target and although Lenny Pidgeley parried the effort, Conneely was on hand to gobble up the rebound and level things up.

Now the tide had turned and though Davies had to push out a free kick from Chris Clements it was largely one way traffic. The mercurial Windass, celebrating his 50th Stanley appearance, almost capitalised on fine build up play from Maguire and Gornell only to be denied by Ryan Taffazolli while his rasping free kick was deflected over the top.

It seemed only a matter of time before the Reds found their second goal and when it arrived it was one to remember for Gornell. The striker beat his man to the ball down the left flank, burst into the penalty area and slid the ball expertly beyond Pidgeley into the bottom right corner to make it 2-1. Mansfield now seemed a spent force, with Davies comfortably dealing with another shot from Clements as they attempted to pull themselves back into it.

In fact Stanley should have increased their advantage late on when Gornell dispossessed a defender and found Mingoia whose cross was perfect for the head of Joyce. Sadly for the skipper, the ball flew over the bar.

A tenth season in the Football League was subsequently celebrated with a lap of appreciation by the players but with seven of the victorious starting 11 either on loan or with contracts expiring this summer, Coleman’s attention must have turned immediately to building his squad for the new campaign.