Korede Adedoyin celebrated a hat-trick and Lewis Trickett scored his first two senior goals as Accrington Stanley went to the top of the Northern Group C table in the EFL Trophy.
The Reds have now won their two opening games – beating Carlisle in their first game and they overcame fellow League Two side Harrogate Town at the EnviroVent Stadium.
Stanley’s young side did lead 4-1 but two second half Harrogate goals made it a nervous ending before Trickett’s superb solo effort in the 90th minute sealed an entertaining win.
John Coleman made seven changes with Jay Rich-Baghuelou back from suspension, Trickett making his first senior start and Adedoyin returning to the starting line-up.
Young striker Anjola Popoola and midfielder Alex Henderson were on the bench.
Stanley started strongly and the game burst into life with four goals in ten minutes.
On 27 minutes Jack Nolan passed to Adedoyin on the right, he evaded a tackle and the cross found Trickett who stroked home his first senior goal.
It was two three minutes later when Nolan’s ball in met unmarked Adedoyin who headed home.
Harrogate hit back with their first real attack on 35 minutes when Toby Sims’ cross found Sam Folarin in the area and he fired the ball beyond Jack McIntyre.
However, on 37 minutes, a misplaced pass was pounced on by Nolan and his accurate ball sent Adedoyin racing forward and he slotted home his second of the game.
Adedoyin completed his hat-trick after the re-start on 51 minutes when Dan Martin charged forward and passed to the frontman in the area and he weaved his way into position and fired home from a tight angle.
Stanley seemed comfortable but Town came back on 58 minutes when Joe Mattock’s low free kick squeezed into bottom corner to make it 4-2
Nolan had a free kick turned around by Lewis Thomas before Stanley lost Rich-Baghuelou who limped off on 75 minutes which will be a worry for Coleman.
And a minute later it became 4-3 when a cross from the left skimmed across the area and landed kindly for Folarin who ran onto the ball and tucked home his second of the game.
Henderson came on for his Stanley debut and there was still time for another as a big clearance from Ben Woods was pinched off the defence by Trickett and he chipped Thomas to make it a night to remember for the youngster.
And there was a memorable night for Popoola who came on for the six minutes of added time and, at 16 years and 117 days, he is the youngest Stanley player in the 21st century.
Stanley: McIntyre, Mellor (Henderson), Hills, Rich-Baghuelou (Pickles), Shipley, Nolan (O’Brien), B Woods, Martin, Trickett, J Woods, Adedoyin (Adekoya)
Subs: McCracken, Lowe.
Attendance: 959