ACCRINGTON Stanley survived a late Morecambe fightback to take three points at the Globe Arena thanks to a double from in-form Shay McCartan.

The former Burnley striker found the net either side of half-time to extend his side’s unbeaten run to nine matches.

Stanley started well and dominated the opening exchanges as they looked to draw first blood.

The visitors were the width of the post from opening the scoring after just four minutes when good work from Jordan Clark down the right found Seamus Conneely, who knocked it back to Noor Husin and the Crystal Palace loanee lashed a low shot back off the inside of the upright.

Moments later McCartan shot wide of the right hand post before latching on to Matty Pearson’s cutback from the left and forcing a save from Shrimps keeper Barry Roche.

All the chances were coming from the Reds, with Sean McConville off target with an effort before floating one wide from McCartan’s lay-off, and McCartan himself lashing wide when Husin had threaded him in down the right.

The more opportunities John Coleman’s team missed the more the sense of frustration grew, with Morecambe restricted to half chances and skirmishes in the Stanley box.

But there was time for the Reds to break the deadlock before the interval and it was all McCartan’s own work. The Northern Ireland Under-21 international was brought down just outside the box on the right by a combination of Peter Murphy and Kevin Ellison, with the latter being booked.

McCartan stepped up and dispatched his sixth goal of the season, his free-kick lofted over the wall and beyond Roche.

Possibly stinging from Jim Bentley’s half-time words, Morecambe looked to respond immediately and ex-Red Murphy had the ball in the net from Michael Rose’s miscued shot only for the assistant’s raised flag to deny him.

Stanley did still pose threats though, with Husin drilling wide before Pearson met a McConville corner only to see it blocked.

Morecambe enjoyed their best spell in the mid-point of the second half, with a series of balls into the area causing some concern among the visiting defence.

But against the run of play Stanley promptly added a second. A Morecambe throw was intercepted and when Alex Whitmore looked like he’d deal with the long ball forward, the on-loan Burnley defender allowed the ball to bounce.

McCartan got in behind him and slid his shot calmly past Roche to double the advantage.

So often Stanley’s nemesis in the past, Ellison looked to quickly claw a goal back but his low right-foot shot was well saved by Marek Rodak – called into real action for the first time as late as the 74th minute.

But there was nothing the Slovakian could do eight minutes from time when Aaron Wildig was found by Andy Fleming on the right of the area, the former Shrewsbury man emphatically finding the left side of the net.

Rodak was able to have a telling say before the final whistle though, saving magnificently from Rose when his rasping drive from the left edge of the area looked destined for the top corner.