ACCRINGTON Stanley were beaten by relegation-threatened Northampton Town in a League Two clash at the Store First Stadium.

Chris Hackett put the visitors in front when he raced on to a long ball and knocked it past goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli before finding the net from a tight angle.

Stanley pushed for an equaliser in the closing stages but could not find the goal they needed.

The Reds sit 16th in the League Two table, although second bottom Northampton did move to within six points of James Beattie's side with five games left to play.

Stanley: Marcus Bettinelli, Nicky Hunt, Dean Winnard, Tom Aldred, Adam Buxton, Will Hatfield (Piero Mingoia 78), Peter Murphy, Luke Joyce, Lee Molyneux, James Gray (Kal Naismith 78), Kayode Odejayi. Subs not used: Rob Atkinson, Michael Liddle, Josh Windass, Danny Webber, George Bowerman.