ACCRINGTON Stanley ended their losing run with a fine 1-0 win over Oxford United – but John Coleman’s team left it late at the Store First Stadium.

Terry Gornell’s first goal since returning to the club on deadline day in the 92nd minute, coupled with a first clean sheet in 17 league games, gave the Reds an invaluable three points.

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A Stanley side showing three changes took to the field for a match manager Coleman had billed as the biggest of his managerial career and the Reds had to be on their defensive mettle early on as Adam Buxton blocked on the line from an early effort from Josh Ruffels.

At the other end the Reds looked sharp too, with debutant Gerardo Bruna firing a free kick just wide and Gornell also off target before Josh Windass got onto the end of great build up play to get an effort beyond goalkeeper Ryan Clarke, only to see Jake Wright clear off the line.

Moments later Luke Joyce volleyed wide before Andy Procter headed Piero Mingoia’s cross past the post as Stanley turned the screw. They were to go even closer, with Buxton unleashing a curler from 25 yards that beat Clarke and clattered back off the bar.

With half-time looming Clarke was then required to keep the ball, denying Windass. Stanley broke down the left and the former Huddersfield midfielder raced goalwards getting his shot away and forcing Clarke to arch his back and turn the ball over the top for a corner.

The second period began in much the same vein with the Reds piling the pressure on Oxford’s goal.

With just three second half minutes played they were millimetres from the opener again; Mingoia did well to find Bruna on the edge of the box and the former Real Madrid youngster produced a left foot strike that beat Clarke and cannoned back off the post.

The counter attack looked like Oxford’s best hope as Stanley tried to find a way through but the visitors’ progress in the home team’s half was limited.

Mingoia was a creative force, crossing from the right for Andy Procter to head the ball off a defender and over for a corner, with Bruna on the opposite flank also getting the home supporters on their feet.

An ambitious low strike from Windass was never really likely to cause Clarke problems and soon United became more of a force in the final third themselves.

Sub James Roberts had their best chance, blazing over the top of an open goal after latching onto Patrick Hoban’s ball across the face 16 minutes from time. Scott Davies then had to stand firm to hold onto a long range strike from Callum O’Dowda.

The later it got the more nervous it became but with five minutes of stoppage time added it was there to be won.

And so it was. Kal Naismith’s free kick from the right was headed across the face of goal and Gornell hooked the ball over his own head and into the net.

The Reds stood firm with a superb defensive display to record a first home win since November.

Stanley (4-2-3-1): Davies, Hunt, Atkinson, Winnard, Buxton (Liddle 69), Proctor, Joyce, Bruna (Naismith 73), Windass (McCartan 95), Mingoia, Gornell