Forward James Gray is confident the team spirit at the club will stand Stanley in good stead as they enter the busy Christmas period.

The Reds entertain York City and Southend United in two crucial matches this week before travelling to Fleetwood Town and Portsmouth in the New Year.

James Beattie’s men earned a dramatic three points with two goals in stoppage time against Mansfield Town on Saturday and Gray, who netted the 94th minute winner, believes the reaction of the club’s staff and supporters spoke volumes.

“The hardest part of being in sport is when you’re sat watching but the bench were all so happy that we won and the fact that everyone got up to celebrate shows a lot about our spirit,” he said.

“The gaffer is always motivating us and he said that he still felt we could win the game even when we were 2-1 down.

“I am so happy for all the backroom staff as they are always giving us the belief that we are going to win games and it’s paid off for them.

“I had cramp before the goal but when I scored, it disappeared and it was the best feeling I’ve ever had.”

Prior to Kal Naismith’s equaliser, the Reds sat second from bottom in the Sky Bet League Two table but the victory moves them up to seventeenth and Gray is hoping Stanley can take this momentum into their upcoming games.

“I checked the table as soon as I got back into the changing room,” he added.

“They (Mansfield)  were a wounded animal and it could have gone either way but from our point of view anything we pick up away from home is brilliant.

“Our two home games are massive with York near us in the table.

“I hope we can kick on and six points is our aim.”