WHILE off the pitch, Stanley continue to make the headlines for the wrong reasons, Bobby Grant and his team-mates are making sure that on the pitch the Reds are hitting the right spot.

The 19-year-old is having his best ever season so far as he has found the back of the net five times with Stanley up to 13th in the League Two table and looking up - five points off a play-off spot.

They have lost just one of their last six games and, while tax debts and fall-outs dominate off-the-field, it’s goals and celebrations which are the talk on it.

"It is going well so far and I am made up," said Grant who is thriving on a regular starting spot, after making his Stanley debut at 16.

"Now I am playing regularly. I just can’t wait for the next game and hope I can get more goals.

"I have got five in around 10 games and I can’t see a reason why I can’t keep it going although goals are a bonus for me while wins for the team are more important."

Youngster Grant has been switched from a winger to a striker and he is loving playing there.

"I am enjoying playing up front as I feel I am more in a game and I am working hard and getting my rewards. I always played up front as a junior player so I am used to it.

"I am playing with more freedom and less pressure and I don’t know why but it has suddenly come together this season.

"I feel more confident and, touch wood, I have steered clear of injuries and had a good pre-season.

"Me and Michael Symes have formed a good partnership and I think it can get better as I pick up a lot of his headers and we link up well.

"I am feeling part of the squad and it does make a big difference playing regularly and doing well."

Grant scored a stunner against Crewe last Friday night in the 5-3 win, getting the ball after a long punt by keeper Alan Martin, letting it bounce then finding the top of the net from the left hand side of the area.

"I will never hit one as sweetly as that again," smiled the teenager. "I think it was the best goal I have ever scored - and I did mean it! There was no one else in the box, I was on my own and I just thought I would have a go.

"This time last year it would have ended up in the car park but now things seem to be going for me and it was nice."

Grant continued: "We have played well in our last six games - apart from the Hereford defeat - and hopefully we can keep this up.

"It is only early days in the league but I don’t see any reason why we can’t make the play-offs.

"Clubs might have bigger squads and, on paper, have bigger names but we have shown that we are as good as anyone on our day so why can’t we keep it going?"

Stanley do have a young squad with the teenagers including Grant, Chris Turner, Billy Kee and defender Tom Lees - who has extended his one month contract from Leeds until the New Year.

"In the past, I have felt like some of the players were my dad but this year is different with the ages being so low. I can still learn off players but we are all doing well together and bringing each other on and it doesn’t really matter."

And he admits, with Kee and Sean McConville waiting in the wings if he does hit a rough patch, the pressure is on. "The gaffer and Jimmy (Bell) keep telling me that I have got to keep working hard as there are people waiting to take my spot.

"I know I have got to keep putting in the performances and I can’t let my standards drop and I have got to keep scoring or setting people up."

He also says he has learnt to keep calm when players try to provoke him on the pitch after a turbulent year where he is currently doing community service every Wednesday after pleading guilty to affray after the incident which involved Steven Gerrard in Southport.

"I have learned my lesson - I will never go out again! But I have also learned to keep my head on the pitch. I have learned its wrong to react to stuff and I just let them kick me now and let them wait for their punishment instead."

It’s another busy week for the Reds as travel to Chesterfield tomorrow in League Two and then are in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy second round at home to Shrewsbury on Tuesday night.

"We have had a talk about using my pace to exploit both defences and I will be trying to do that and hopefully get a few more goals. I just love playing at the moment," added Grant.