Dad Sean puts fresh life into Stanley

JIMMY Bell is hopeful a thumping win at Blundell Park is the start of something big for Accrington Stanley.

Stanley’s assistant manager watched his team halt their slide down the table – a poor run of four league defeats on the bounce – courtesy of a scintillating second-half performance against a sluggish Grimsby.

Billy Kee, Sean McConville, who had become a father just 24 hours prior to kick-off, and Kayden Jackson all struck to hand the visitors a boost.

“That is much more like it from us,” said Bell.

“We had to turn around a bad sequence of results and we knew it would come sooner or later because we're a good team.

“We dug in well in the first half and kicked on in the second. We scored at the perfect times.

“The first goal gave us a lot of confidence and it was good to see the players play the way we know they can again.

“Hopefully this is the start of something big for us now. We are capable.”

It was Grimsby who looked the more ambitious early on and centre-back Danny Collins’ looping header almost gave the hosts the lead on 37 minutes.

At the other end, McConville’s left-footed free-kick forced a fine diving stop by Ben Killip but the chance of the half fell to the visitors in stoppage time.

The ball dropped to Kee in an inviting position 15 yards out but the forward fired horribly over the bar.

Stanley were muchimproved after the break and took the lead in the 55th minute.

A neat move found McConville rushing towards the byline before he appeared to be tripped by Luke Summerfield.

Referee Darren Drysdale pointed to the spot and Kee made amends for his earlier miss by firing the ball into the bottom left-hand corner.

Accrington silenced Blundell Park by doubling their advantage on the hourmark – Jordan Clark’s cross brilliantly headed home by McConville.

The three points were wrapped up in the 77th minute as a long punt set Jackson free down the left and the striker cut inside before belting the ball past Killip.

Grimsby boss Russell Slade said: “We lost to the better team.

“When the games come thick and fast, that first goal is crucial. We were not at the level we have produced over the last five weeks.

“The disappointing thing is their goals came quickly.

“It’s important we respond to what is a setback.”