THERE was a point in the summer when cash-strapped Accrington Stanley had just two players on their books for this season and it was difficult to see how they could survive in League Two. Now, it is hard to see how they will not.

These are early days yet, and it is impossible to predict the events of the months ahead.

It was a disconsolate John Coleman, informed of a 25 per cent budget cut just days earlier, who had warned after the last game of the last campaign that finances would probably mean a fight for survival this season.

For not an insignificant period, he had only Paul Mullin and Sean McConville signed up as Stanley struggled to agree a solution over an unpaid tax bill.

But Coleman has since assembled a squad that, on current evidence at least, appears to be better than the one that finished 16th in May.

The manner in which the winning goal came on Saturday belied the crisp passing football that Stanley have played since the season began last week.

With the air raid siren – the newest addition – sounding at every set piece, 6ft 2in centre half Darran Kempson evaded his marker and headed into the far corner from a free kick chipped in by Jimmy Ryan.

Coleman had been concerned that set pieces, the source of both goals they had conceded this season, were proving to be Stanley’s weakness. On this occasion, they merely added to their growing list of strengths. It was Kempson’s first goal of his third spell at the club.

Stanley’s biggest losses of the summer had been Kieran Charnock and Kenny Arthur, yet the form of Kempson and new goalkeeper Alan Martin – the man whose late saves guaranteed this win – have meant that the Reds have so far not missed them at all.

Stanley were without injured forward Billy Kee, but they are no longer short of attacking options. Gary King was handed his Reds debut against the club that released him in the summer.

Bobby Grant, a scorer as a substitute in the Carling Cup win over Walsall, was recalled with Chris King dropping out and midfielder Luke Joyce surprisingly switching to right back – albeit a position he has adopted on occasions for previous clubs.

With the banned Peter Cavanagh watching from the stands, Stanley edged the first half against a Lincoln side whose performance was as grey as their shirts.

Paul Mullin, who ended a 17-match goal drought in midweek, should have scored early on as he put a free header wide from a cross delivered by John Miles.

It was Miles who caused the most havoc in the Lincoln defence throughout, toying with left back Joe Heath.

Stanley fans revealed through song that they dreamed of ‘a team of John Miles’, although just one seemed to be enough to confuse the visitors.

Miles fired wide from 25 yards before half time, while Jamie Clarke did the same for Lincoln after the interval.

After the fourth of six yellow cards dished out to Lincoln, Kempson nodded the Reds ahead in the 50th minute.

With a dominant Stanley pressing for a second and torrential rain starting to fall, fine wing play from Miles led to Mullin heading over the bar.

Lincoln began to push for an equaliser, with Martin saving Rene Howe’s header, although McConville might have made it 2-0 as he somehow failed to turn in Grant’s cross.

Soon after, McConville cut in from the right and forced a save from Burch.

But Stanley had to hang on in the final minutes and Martin came to their rescue.

First the 20-year-old saved from Howe’s shot, later diving to his right to superbly tip Heath’s 25-yard effort over the bar.

An equaliser would have been unjust, but Stanley have fallen victim to such things before.

These were the Reds’ first points of the season but it was a second home win in the space of five days. On this form, no-one should be surprised if they register another tomorrow against Northampton.