meant a disappointing result from a game that Grantham manager Carlton Palmer thought his team should have taken more from. While there were pleasing aspects to the game from his perspective, Palmer thought his side missed a number of opportunities.

“they’ve done the things I asked them to do today.” The Grantham manager said. “The goal has come from a mistake, we were comfortable in the game, but we had enough opportunities from restarts to have won comfortably. We have got to be better at corners and free kicks. There are goals to be had there and we weren’t good enough in that area. Their centre half has got mana of the match and that tells you everything you need to know.”

Sam Scrivens and Brad Grayson looked lively for the Gingerbreads in the early exchanges which were most notable for a yellow card shown to Joe Parkin for a poor challenge after 10 minutes. Ossett got on the front foot and forced a corner that caused a few problems for Grantham. James Williamson’s clearance hit an Ossett player and fell to Ross Killock. His shot was blocked and ran through comfortably for Jim Pollard.

Grantham created a number of half chances in the first half hour but couldn’t make any of them count. Adam Watson saw his shot saved by Max Dearnley in the 17th minute when a long throw fell to him. Parkin began to pull some strings in the centre of midfield, setting up Scrivens with space to shoot, but a covering defender got a block in as Scrivens fired off his shot. Parkin had a go himself after 33 minutes but could only hit Dearnley.

Ossett held a threat that the Gingerbreads needed to be aware of, but solid defending prevented any real chances. Watson did well to block a low cross before Nico De Girolamo got across after 37 minutes to prevent James Walshaw getting a shot away. When Aaron Haswell did hit the target two minutes before half time, Pollard was well positioned to gather his shot.

Late in the first half, Grantham went close to taking the lead. Three minutes before the break, Scrivens made space on the right and delivered a good cross. Ali Aydemir and Grayson both had shots blocked in the scramble that followed, but Grantham couldn’t force the ball home. On the stroke of halftime, Scrivens fed Grayson who turned and shot, Dearnley dived low to his right to make a good save.

After the break, the Gingerbreads continued on the front foot. Scrivens was a constant threat, setting up Jack Walters three minutes into the half, but his shot was blocked. Scrivens then found Grayson in space with Dearnley advancing, but Grayson lifted his shot just over the top of the crossbar.

Scrivens should have given Grantham the lead on 54 minutes. He was played through on the edge of the penalty area with just Dearnley to beat. Scrivens hit his shot early from 18 yards out and Dearnley again denied Grantham with a good save.

Home substitute Marcel Chipamaunga had already shown he was a threat with a good cross that Pollard took at the second attempt. After 56 minutes, Chipamaunga was in the right place to capitalize on a mistake at the back from the Gingerbreads. He started the move, playing in Walshsw. Pollard came a long way to meet the Ossett striker and won the ball, but it fell to an unmarked Chipamaunga who slipped the ball into the empty net.

With the lead, the home side threatened more. Rory Coleman did enough to clear a cross from Nah Connolly and Pollard was called into action and made a good save on 72 minutes to stop Walshaw’s header.

A great chance for an equaliser came and went ten minutes from time. Manny Kianga got away on the right-hand side and put in a great cross. Nenad Smiljanic was just beaten to the cross and the follow-up shot was straight at Dearnley.

Ossett forced several corners as they made the most of Grantham changes and the Gingerbreads pushing for an equaliser. Solid defending meant that delivery from Reon Potts and Chipamaunga didn’t reach the intended targets.

Grantham’s late efforts all fell short. Scrivens twice delivered good balls into the penalty area. First left the ball for James Williamson to take the header from a better position, but the header was easy for Dearnley, then Scrivens’ dinked cross didn’t find anyone in the right place.