SEAN McConville believes Stanley have never been in better shape - a fact epitomised by their friendly win over Marseille.

The Reds winger scored the opener in the 2-1 win at the AJ Bell Stadium in Salford before being brought down for the penalty that saw Offrande Zanzala add what turned out to be a crucial second.

In his second spell with the club, McConville believes the game was a sign of how much things are on the up at the Wham Stadium under owner Andy Holt.

“The chairman’s done unbelievably well to get the game on,” said the 30-year-old.

“It’s probably off Twitter because he’s busy on there!

“Someone’s probably followed him, a French outlet or something and they’ve linked up that way.

“Fair play to him, he’s driving this club forward and isn’t just going to stop at playing Marseille.

“This club can carry on and build. That’s the community side and everything. Since I’ve been at the club it’s the best shape we’ve ever been in.

“They were still early in their pre-season so it’s a bit of a fitness thing for them but for the fans and the club it’s a coup to beat a side as big as Marseille.

“And hopefully in the future it brings more top games like that.”

McConville was the star of the show against Andre Villas-Boas’ Ligue 1 giants who had France star Dimitri Payet and Brazil international Luis Gustavo among the big names in their ranks.

First he headed home a deep cross before a fine bit of trickery breaking into the box set up the spot kick and the upset.

McConville admitted when the game was announced he had some trepidation about how things might pan out and what a tough night may have been on the cards for the League One side.

“Sometimes when those games get announced, in my mind I think we’re going to be chasing shadows,” he said.

“You think you’re going to just be running more than you would against a Darwen or a non-league team.

“It’s a strange mentality but once we got there and saw all the stars - Payet, Gustavo and all the top players - to pit your wits against them and win is a testament to our lads and how hard we’ve worked at the start of pre-season.”

More than anything Stanley boss John Coleman wants his side to get into a winning habit as they looked to build on a 14th-placed finish.

The Marseille win saw the Reds bounce back from defeat to Sligo and while there has been a defeat in a training ground game against Burnley, the next public friendly comes at Welsh Premier League side Bala Town on Saturday.

“We’d played Sligo a few days before and we should have been four or 5-0 up but we didn’t find the net,” said McConville.

“Once you find that net you tend to find that people’s confidence goes up again and that’s what happened, we got one and then we got the second.

“I felt really comfortable in the game after that to be honest.

“They were playing in front of us but they weren’t really hurting us.

“In the end we ran out deserved winners and that’s what it’s about.

“Even though it’s pre-season the gaffer tries to drill into us how important it is to win games.

“Everyone was happy in the dressing room afterwards.

“It felt to be out there, whether it’s against Marseille or anyone.

“It was good to get 90 minutes in and I just love playing football.”

After the game against Bala, Stanley head to Warrington on Monday, July 22.