In the battle of the ex-school teachers it was full marks for John Coleman and more lessons for Crewe boss Dario Gradi on Tuesday night.

Coleman’s side ticked all the right boxes and, with back-to-back wins, are now looking to go to the top of the class and seal a top seven spot.

For Crewe, they will have to do extra homework, after being expelled from the top three and now lying in 11th place in the league.

There were five stars for Charlie Barnett, who opened the scoring and for Ian Craney who scored a 25-yard wonder goal reminiscent of his goals in the first spell of his Reds career.

And then super sub Sean McConville was teacher’s pet as, after only being on the pitch for three minutes, he turned and fired home the winner.

While they captured the attention, the Reds defence made one mistake to gift Byron Moore the Crewe opener – but then held firm.

Dave Artell’s volley did get it back to 2-2 but there was little anyone could do about that as he belted the ball home. Even he admitted to former team-mate Craney that he will never score another like that.

But the Reds showed the determination to battle back – one thing about Coleman’s sides is that they never throw the towel in.

All in all it was a solid team effort on a pitch which, while wondering what kind of football would be served up after work on the drainage last week and the sandy patches, it didn’t stop either side sweeping the ball around,

Boss Coleman was certainly jovial as his young side – made up largely of players released by other clubs and given a second chance at the Crown Ground – continue to impress.

"The conditions were difficult and the groundsmen should be applauded.¿It is sapping with the sand but the pitch was not worse than Rotherhams or Wycombes where we have played recently," said the Reds chief.

"We did give a silly goal away but then we bounced back.

"Charlie Barnett has got a lot of talent and we realise how much he has and that’s why we demand more from him. He know he needs to improve his fitness and he has scored a great goal.

"Wherever he plays, he is capable of having a big impact on the game.

"Ian’s goal will hopefully give him a boost. We have seen glimpses of what Ian can do. He has great vision and awareness and is never scared to shoot.

"He is a fantastic player but he is still searching to find his best form but it won’t be for lack of effort.

"He has had a bug for the last 10 days and he is still a way off fitness but he is capable of pulling a rabbit out of a hat.

"To be honest, his turn and run to set up Charlie for the first goal was equally impressive.

"Then Sean has got the winner and it’s a great goal from him. We have kept battling and I think we deserved the three points."

Games against Crewe are rarely dull with 14 goals in the two clashes last season.

Both sides went for it and Barnett is really settling into his more attacking midfield role.

The former Tranmere man began his Stanley career in the holding two but, in the last few games, has been pushed forward and now has a number of assists and has taken his goal tally to two for the season.

"I did play on the left wing for Tranmere so it’s no different for me," said the 22-year-old. "I don’t mind where I play.

"I was disappointed earlier in the season that I hadn’t scored a couple more but I have got two goals now, a few assists and I want to get more.

"The gaffer pushes me all the time as he wants to make me a better player and there are a few of us like that as we have a pretty young side.

"The competition is really fierce now at the club and you know, if you have an off-day, there is someone waiting to come on and that’s what we have needed."

Barnett’s goal on Tuesday was vital in a quick reaction to Crewe’s speedy start.

They had opened the scoring when a long ball over the top caught out Sean Hessey and Phil Edwards and Moore capitalised on eight minutes.

However four minutes later, Craney was the architect with a turn and run before setting up Barnett on the left of the area who picked his spot well.

Keeper Rhys Taylor pulled off a wonder save to deny Barnett a second while Terry Gornell’s header wasn’t far off.

Gradi was full of praise for the Reds first half display and admitted his side, famed for their passing movement, were second best. He said: "They looked like they were in a different league to us. We could not get anywhere near them in the first half."

But the goal that lit up the Crown Ground was Craney’s two minutes after the interval.

Gornell chested the ball down into his path and the midfielder took it on the run and lashed it into the net from 25-yards.

In the Conference days, Stanley fans had grown accustomed to Craney’s magic and hopefully this is the start of another impressive spell for him at the Reds.

Stanley were playing well and should have added to their tally so, when they dipped and Crewe got on top midway through the second half, there was a sense of danger.

And when former Morecambe man Artell volleyed home an equaliser on 72 minutes, there were a few nerves that Stanley may crumble.

But hopefully that’s a thing of the past with the Reds.

They responded to the goal the only way they know how – attack.

McConville still had a lot to do when he got the ball from Barnett in the area but he managed to twist around and find space through a number of defenders to fire home the winner –¿his eighth of the season as he looks to claim back a starting berth.

The Reds then saw the game out and hopefully they have learned their lessons from earlier in the season – and now is their time to graduate from League Two with flying colours.