Mark Hughes scored twice as Accrington hit back from two goals down to extend their 13-game unbeaten run courtesy of a 3-2 victory over Crewe.

Crewe looked set to hand Stanley their first defeat in two months after first-half goals from Callum Cooke and Chris Dagnall.

But the hosts came roaring back and a double from defender Hughes either side of Shay McCartan's strike handed them a win that keeps alive an outside chance of reaching the League Two play-offs.

Mark Hughes scored a double to keep Stanley’s faint play-off hopes alive and extend their unbeaten run to 13 games.

Stanley trailed 2-0 at half-time against Crewe but Hughes scored his first goals of this campaign and a trademark Shay McCartan free kick secured all three points for the Reds in a second half fightback.

Crewe were the better side in the first half and opened the scoring on 15 minutes when Middlesbrough loanee Callum Cooke got the ball 25 yards out and unleashed a fierce shot into the bottom of Marek Rodak’s goal.

The visitors made it 2-0 on 41 minutes when Chris Dagnall got in between the defence and Rodak to pounce on George Cooper’s ball and fire home for this 13th goal of the season.

Billy Kee came close to getting one back for Stanley on 57 minutes from 20 yards with the fingertips of Garratt denying him.

However, from the resulting McConville corner, Crewe failed to clear their lines and Hughes poked the ball home from close range.

Four minutes later, Stanley won a free kick in ‘McCartan territory’ and the striker made no mistake firing home his sixth free kick of the season out of his 10 goals.

It needed a superb save from Garratt to deny Jordan Clark a third after he had been set up by McCartan. The winger blasted it goalwards but the keeper pushed it out.

McCartan went on a tricky run but was denied by Garratt however, from the resulting corner, Hughes struck again to fire home at the far post to complete a memorable comeback on 79 minutes.