DARRAN Kempson will be the first to admit that his sending off against Fulham was one of the low points in his career. So the defender had to bounce back - and what better way than to beat your former club and make sure their star striker is in your pocket to bury the FA Cup ghost and boost Stanley’s play-off charge.

Kempson looked shell shocked after his two yellow cards in the FA Cup and couldn’t avoid the effect of his red card with all the national media recording it.

He was banned for Stanley’s next game against Aldershot with centre back Johnny Flynn moving into his role and acquitting himself well.

But Kempson, who was released by the Shrews in 2008, got the nod to start in Shropshire - where Accrington have always lost - and he turned in a star show to make it five league wins out of six and show why he has become such a strong part of John Coleman’s promotion chasing team.

Shrews striker Dave Hibbert was going for a club record of scoring in six successive league games but the fact he had one scuffed shot to his name was testament to Kempson and his team-mates at the back turning in solid shows - again.

"Darran was absolutely magnificent," enthused boss Coleman. "He had a point to prove and he never stopped going from the first minute to the last.

"He wore his heart on his sleeve against a very good forward and stopped Dave Hibbert, who is in a very good run of form, going for a record, and this shows how well he did."

The win, against one of their promotion rivals, really signalled Stanley’s promotion intentions as the Reds dominated against the Shrews, created by far the better chances, used their widemen well and, once Bobby Grant’s winner went in, didn’t really look like losing the three valuable points.

And they could have had more goals but had three penalty shouts turned down - one on John Miles after a neat one-two with Michael Symes looked a certainty.

That’s not to say the Reds had it all their own way and, if Jake Robinson had found the target and not the side netting from four yards out with only the keeper to beat in the first minute, then it could have been commiserations rather than celebrations.

But it was the 5,000-strong Shrews who went home unhappy with the 136 Stanley Ultras having another fine away day - and there have been quite a few of them this season.

"It was hard fought," continued Coleman. "Shrewsbury are a good side and if that first chance had gone in or if we hadn’t kicked a couple off the line, then it would have been a different game.

"But we were unlucky to be denied a couple of penalties and I thought, for 20 minutes at the end of the first half, we were outstanding.

"I knew their manager Paul Simpson would give them a rocket at half-time but we kept it tight and were always dangerous on the break.

"For us to come here and win, it is a massive marker for us to put down to the rest of the league and we want to climb the table.

"We hadn’t won at Bury, Rochdale or Notts County before this season and this is another one we have chalked off but we have got to keep it going as it will count for nothing if we don’t see it out and win our home games."

The day was only marred by the sending off of captain Andy Procter for two bookings - the skipper was walking a tight rope after a soft early yellow and referee Patrick Miller seemed harsh in his award of a second card six minutes from time.

But it didn’t mar the fact another Grant goal - his 13th of the season - made it an incredible win for the Reds who have got the hang of beating their higher placed opponents this season.

It was another former Shrew Symes who threaded the ball through for Grant in the area, Shane Candsell-Sherriff dallied and Grant battled to take the ball off him and blast into the back of the net - Stanley’s first goal at the New Meadow

Reds stopper Dean Bouzanis didn’t have a lot to do but made a stunning low save from Cansdell-Sherriff’s goalbound header while Tom Lees also cleared an effort off the line.

But, on the break, it was Stanley who were by far the more dangerous with Jimmy¿Ryan dominating on the right wing against his former club and Symes getting a decent reception off his old fans when he was subbed late on.

There were fears that this could be the striker’s last Stanley game but Monday’s transfer deadline passed without incident and now the Reds want to make sure they keep taking points off their top seven rivals - and on this show, they can keep doing it.