BOBBY Grant came back to haunt former club Accrington Stanley as he scored both goals in Shrewsbury Town’s 2-1 win at the Store First Stadium.
The Stanley youth team product scored a goal in either half to consign his old side to back-to-back league defeats.
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Stanley made two changes from the side defeated by Luton at the weekend with Michael Liddle and Matt Crooks coming in for Kal Naismith and Seamus Conneely.
But it was the visitors who started brightest with Scott Davies forced into a save from James Collins inside the opening 30 seconds.
After weathering an early storm the Reds went on the attack, with Josh Windass seeing a shot from range deflected behind for a corner.
But soon the visitors were in front and it was a familiar face who benefitted from a slice of luck to open the scoring. Grant’s free kick from over 25 yards clipped the top of the Stanley wall and looped over Davies and into the net to give the Shrews an eleventh minute advantage. There was no celebration from the former Reds youngster.
Former Shrewsbury man Terry Gornell tried to return the favour moments later but he was tackled at the last when he looked to have raced into a goalscoring position.
In truth Stanley weren’t crafting clear cut chances but took an opportunity when they were presented with it eight minutes from the break. Liddle was pushed at the back post and referee Geoff Eltringham pointed to the penalty spot.
Windass stepped up to stroke home from 12 yards and make it 1-1.
The leveller seemed to give the Reds confidence and they were soon back on the front foot and only kept at bay by visiting goalkeeper Jayson Leutwiler. First a long throw from Davies set Piero Mingoia away down the right and the goalkeeper pushed his shot out, then Gornell’s stab at the rebound was saved by the recovering keeper and Anthony Barry’s third bite at the cherry was cleared off the line.
After a half time downpour the pitch was a slick and soggy affair and a high tempo start to the second half indicated both sides intended to attack.
From the kick off Shrewsbury advanced and Jordan Clark saw a shot blocked on the edge of the Stanley box, leaving the Reds to counter attack. Mingoia crossed from the right and, with Gornell lurking, Jermaine Grandison was forced to turn the ball behind for a corner.
It was a passage of play which didn’t reflect the majority of the half, with both sides trying to keep it tight and hope for a mistake from their opponents.
Tyrone Barnett cut in and fired wide with Davies scrambling before the Stanley custodian kept a routine hold of a strike from Grant.
Just when it seemed that both sides would settle for a point Grant struck again.
Sub Jean Louis Akpa Akpro crossed from the left and Grant was unopposed to head home his second of the night.
The slide of delight showed how important the late goal was to him, regardless of his history with Stanley.
Stanley: Davies, Atkinson, Winnard, Liddle (Naismith 75), Joyce, Mingoia, Windass, Barry (McCartan 75), Proctor, Crooks, Gornell.
Subs not used: Maguire, Bruna, Conneely, Bowerman, Dawber Attendance: 1,137
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