Shrewsbury Town came from behind to beat Crawley and lift themselves back into the League Two top three.

Shrewsbury trailed on 33 minutes when Billy Clarke's neat lob set John Akinde free and he thumped home left-footed into the bottom corner from 12 yards.

But Mark Wright's 15-yard shot levelled matters just before half-time.

And Shrewsbury won it 16 minutes from time when Jermaine Grandison's power in midfield released fellow substitute Marvin Morgan to toepoke the winner.

Grandison only came on at half-time, having arrived late after being stuck in traffic on the way to the ground.

On a night when the home side scored with two of their only three shots on target, Hope Akpan wasted Crawley's best chance of an equaliser when he head wide in the dying seconds.

But they controlled the first half for long stage, home keeper Chris Neal having to be alert to stop shots from just outside the area from Josh Simpson and Sanchez Watt.

Neal also came to his side's rescue with important saves from Akinde and Watt after the break before Morgan, who turned down the chance to sign for Crawley last season, had the final word.

Crawley's defeat at the Meadow means that they stay fifth, now four points adrift of the automatic promotion places, but with games in hand.

Graham Turner's men have now gone unbeaten at home in almost 12 months, having not lost in front of their own fans in 23 games since the 3-0 defeat by Bury on 1 March last year.

VIEWS FROM THE TRAINING GROUND

Shrewsbury Town boss Graham Turner told BBC Radio Shropshire:

"It's a great result for us given all the circumstances.

"I thought Crawley played ever so well, they caused us problems, probably took us by surprise with the pace they played at and we never got it going in the first half.

"It's three points from an exceedingly average performance from us and I don't want to start knocking the players.

"We've had the hiccup with the performance tonight, but we've had the big boost of the three points."

Lineup, Bookings (1) & Substitutions (6)

Shrewsbury Town

  • 01 Neal Booked
  • 03 Jacobson
  • 05 Sharps
  • 06 Cansdell-Sherriff (Grandison - 46' )
  • 15 Regan
  • 07 Wright
  • 14 Richards
  • 19 McAllister
  • 23 Taylor
  • 09 Collins (Wroe - 81' )
  • 24 Gornell (Morgan - 46' )

Substitutes

  • 25 Smith
  • 02 Grandison
  • 08 Wroe
  • 16 Ainsworth
  • 10 Morgan

Crawley Town

  • 26 Gilmartin
  • 03 Howell
  • 04 Mills
  • 05 McFadzean
  • 20 Wassmer (Hawley - 85' )
  • 06 Akpan
  • 07 Clarke
  • 11 Simpson (Batt - 77' )
  • 15 Bulman
  • 10 Watt (Neilson - 66' )
  • 17 Akinde

Substitutes

  • 01 Kuipers
  • 08 Torres
  • 22 Neilson
  • 19 Hawley
  • 21 Batt
Ref: Moss
Att: 5,229

Match Stats

Shots

9 17

On target

4 11

Corners

3 7

Fouls

10 10

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:21 Full time

Full Time The referee signals the end of the game.

90:00 +4:10

The ball is swung over by Dean Howell, Marvin Morgan manages to make a clearance.

90:00 +2:37

Corner taken by Dean Howell from the left by-line. Hope Akpan has a headed effort at goal from close range which goes wide left of the target.

90:00 +1:19

Carl Regan challenges Scott Neilson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Billy Clarke takes the indirect free kick.

90:00 +0:45 Booking

Booking The referee books Chris Neal for time wasting.

88:39

Scott Neilson is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Indirect free kick taken by Chris Neal.

85:02

The assistant referee signals for offside against Karl Hawley. Free kick taken by Chris Neal.

83:57

Indirect free kick taken by Chris Neal.

83:57 Substitution

Substitution Karl Hawley joins the action as a substitute, replacing Charlie Wassmer.

83:57

Billy Clarke challenges Carl Regan unfairly and gives away a free kick.

83:10

Mark Wright takes a shot. Rene Gilmartin makes a comfortable save.

80:46 Substitution

Substitution Nicky Wroe joins the action as a substitute, replacing James Collins.

80:20

Corner taken left-footed by Billy Clarke from the left by-line to the near post, clearance made by Matthew Richards.

80:07

Scott Neilson takes a shot. Save by Chris Neal.

78:01

Foul by James Collins on Kyle McFadzean, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Rene Gilmartin.

76:45 Substitution

Substitution Shaun Batt on for Josh Simpson.

75:20

Kyle McFadzean fouled by Marvin Morgan, the ref awards a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Rene Gilmartin.

73:23

The assist for the goal came from Jermaine Grandison.

73:23 Goal scored

Goal - Marvin Morgan - Shrewsbury 2 - 1 Crawley Marvin Morgan scores a goal from the edge of the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Shrewsbury 2-1 Crawley Town.

72:55

Headed effort from deep inside the area by James Collins misses to the left of the goal.

72:00

Pablo Mills sends in a cross, free kick awarded for a foul by John Akinde on Jermaine Grandison. Chris Neal takes the free kick.

70:37

Dean Howell delivers the ball, Dannie Bulman takes a shot. Save by Chris Neal. Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Joe Jacobson by Josh Simpson. Indirect free kick taken by Chris Neal.

68:52

Centre by Marvin Morgan, save made by Rene Gilmartin.

65:42 Substitution

Substitution Scott Neilson comes on in place of Sanchez Watt.

63:46

John Akinde challenges Jermaine Grandison unfairly and gives away a free kick. Chris Neal takes the indirect free kick.

62:44

Dean Howell produces a cross, Carl Regan manages to make a clearance.

62:26

The ball is crossed by Dean Howell, Jermaine Grandison manages to make a clearance.

61:38

Kyle McFadzean fouled by Marvin Morgan, the ref awards a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Dannie Bulman.

60:53

Kyle McFadzean has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the right of the target.

60:08

Foul by James Collins on Hope Akpan, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Pablo Mills.

59:40

Sanchez Watt takes a shot. Save made by Chris Neal.

59:32

The ball is sent over by Dean Howell.

58:39

Inswinging corner taken by Billy Clarke from the right by-line, clearance made by Ian Sharps.

58:39

Corner from the right by-line taken by Billy Clarke, clearance by Ian Sharps.

58:28

John Akinde takes a shot. Save made by Chris Neal.

57:25

The ball is crossed by Marvin Morgan, James Collins takes a shot. Rene Gilmartin makes a save.

56:43

Unfair challenge on Carl Regan by Billy Clarke results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Chris Neal.

55:39

The ball is sent over by Marvin Morgan, Pablo Mills manages to make a clearance.

54:55

John Akinde is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Indirect free kick taken by Chris Neal.

54:11

Effort from outside the penalty box by Jon Taylor goes wide left of the target.

53:38

Mark Wright decides to take the corner short. The ball is crossed by Mark Wright, clearance made by Kyle McFadzean.

53:30

Mark Wright crosses the ball, clearance by Dean Howell.

49:07

Billy Clarke sends in a cross, clearance by Marvin Morgan.

48:39

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Sanchez Watt played to the near post, clearance by Matthew Richards.

48:03

Billy Clarke takes a shot. Save by Chris Neal.

48:03

Billy Clarke takes a shot. Chris Neal makes a save.

46:40

Shot from outside the area by Sanchez Watt misses to the left of the target.

45:01

The referee gets the second half started.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Marvin Morgan replaces Terry Gornell.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Jermaine Grandison replaces Shane Cansdell-Sherriff.

45:00 +1:04 Half time

Half Time The whistle is blown to end the first half.

45:00 +0:27

Dean Howell has an effort at goal and missed to the left of the target.

43:14

Terry Gornell provided the assist for the goal.

43:14 Goal scored

Goal - Mark Wright - Shrewsbury 1 - 1 Crawley Goal scored by Mark Wright from the edge of the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Shrewsbury 1-1 Crawley Town.

42:40

The ball is crossed by Carl Regan, clearance made by Sanchez Watt.

41:33

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Mark Wright, James Collins has a header from close range and clears the crossbar.

39:29

Jon Taylor fouled by Sanchez Watt, the ref awards a free kick. Chris Neal takes the free kick.

38:16

Mark Wright has an effort at goal from outside the area which misses left.

37:47

The ball is swung over by Hope Akpan, save by Chris Neal.

36:27

Billy Clarke is ruled offside. Chris Neal takes the free kick.

35:51

Foul by Terry Gornell on Pablo Mills, free kick awarded. Indirect free kick taken by Rene Gilmartin.

34:47

Free kick awarded for a foul by Mark Wright on Dannie Bulman. Pablo Mills crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel, save by Chris Neal.

32:59

Assist on the goal came from Billy Clarke.

32:59 Goal scored

Goal - John Akinde - Shrewsbury 0 - 1 Crawley John Akinde finds the back of the net with a goal from the edge of the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Shrewsbury 0-1 Crawley Town.

30:52

Kyle McFadzean concedes a free kick for a foul on James Collins. Mark Wright takes the direct free kick.

30:29

A cross is delivered by Carl Regan, Pablo Mills manages to make a clearance.

30:21

The ball is crossed by Jon Taylor, blocked by Dean Howell.

29:32

Corner taken by Matthew Richards.

29:15

Terry Gornell sends in a cross, save by Rene Gilmartin.

27:55

The ball is crossed by Jon Taylor, Kyle McFadzean makes a clearance.

26:11

Terry Gornell is ruled offside. Free kick taken by Rene Gilmartin.

24:33

Hope Akpan produces a right-footed shot from just outside the penalty area that goes harmlessly over the target.

23:05

The ball is delivered by Dean Howell, Billy Clarke takes a shot. Save made by Chris Neal.

22:06

Corner taken by Billy Clarke from the right by-line played to the near post, Close range effort by Kyle McFadzean misses to the right of the goal.

21:17

Terry Gornell gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Kyle McFadzean. Indirect free kick taken by Rene Gilmartin.

20:22

The assistant referee flags for offside against John Akinde. Chris Neal restarts play with the free kick.

19:39

Sanchez Watt takes a shot. Save by Chris Neal.

18:25

Josh Simpson takes a shot. Chris Neal makes a comfortable save.

18:00

The ball is crossed by Dean Howell, clearance made by Matthew Richards.

14:56

Billy Clarke takes a shot. Save by Chris Neal.

14:20

Billy Clarke sends in a cross, save made by Chris Neal.

13:41

Shot on goal by James Collins from just inside the area goes over the target.

13:09

Foul by Josh Simpson on Joe Jacobson, free kick awarded. Joe Jacobson takes the free kick.

12:13

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on David McAllister by Hope Akpan. Joe Jacobson takes the free kick.

11:29

Centre by Kyle McFadzean.

9:53

Centre by Josh Simpson, Ian Sharps manages to make a clearance.

6:35

Corner taken left-footed by Billy Clarke from the left by-line, John Akinde concedes a free kick for a foul on Chris Neal. Chris Neal restarts play with the free kick.

6:23

Sanchez Watt takes a shot. Mark Wright gets a block in.

6:18

Centre by Dean Howell, Shane Cansdell-Sherriff manages to make a clearance.

5:57

Dean Howell crosses the ball, clearance by Joe Jacobson.

4:06

Corner taken by Billy Clarke.

3:44

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kyle McFadzean by David McAllister. Kyle McFadzean takes the free kick.

1:20

David McAllister concedes a free kick for a foul on John Akinde. Free kick crossed left-footed by Billy Clarke from left channel, clearance made by Shane Cansdell-Sherriff.

0:00

The match begins.

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