PIERO Mingoia’s dad was so keen to ensure his son was credited with the second goal in Accrington Stanley’s 2-1 win over Cambridge United that he paid a visit to the press box to make sure he got the nod.

Shortly after the midfielder’s strike had deflected off Michael Nelson and into the net to add to his first half opener and make it 2-0, the Mingoia family patriarch took steps to ensure that the 23-year-old could celebrate his first Football League brace.

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It was never in doubt, with Mingoia the standout performer in another fine home win for John Coleman’s team.

A side showing three changes to the one that beat Notts County in the FA Cup first round replay in midweek started slowly, with Cambridge striker Kwesi Appiah firing into the side netting early on before Nelson guided a header just wide.

As time ticked on though the Reds began to hit their stride, with debutant Matt Crooks leading the line. It was his backheel that gave Mingoia the home team’s first clear cut chance, though U’s goalkeeper Chris Dunn got down to save the shot comfortably.

The same could not be said moments later when the Reds took the lead.

John O’Sullivan hung a cross from the left towards the back post and with the cause looking lost Mingoia arrived to volley the ball into the corner of the net from a tight angle for his first of the season and to give the Reds the advantage.

It was just the boost Coleman’s men needed and their lead should have been more at half-time.

First Crooks laid the ball off to Sean Maguire and his rasping effort from the edge of the D was turned on the bar by Chris Dunn before another Mingoia strike deflected into the sky and was turned acrobatically over the bar by an increasingly busy keeper.

The second half began as the first had ended, with Maguire and Crooks going close early on before the latter’s diving header was comfortably saved after Dean Winnard had crossed invitingly.

Winnard had to be alert at the other end to snuff out a rare Cambridge attack, diverting Matty Blair’s shot wide, but in truth the Reds looked comfortable.

That feeling grew 18 minutes from time when O’Sullivan’s superb crossfield pass was seized upon by Mingoia.

The former Watford man cut inside from the left and let fly. The unfortunate Nelson couldn’t get out of the way and the ball clattered off him and over Dunn to make it 2-0 to the home side.

It seemed like job done, except Nelson had other ideas. The defender, sporting a magnificent Movember moustache, superbly volleyed home with his left foot from outside the area in the first of five minutes of stoppage time to set up a nervy finish.

As it happened, Coleman’s men switched seamlessly into containment mode to ensure there were no further scares and record a seventh home victory in eight games.

The result lifts Stanley back into the top half, just four points from the play-offs.

While the players warmed down and the manager conducted his post match interviews the drinks in the bar were on Mingoia senior.