Grantham held the advantage for much of this game but goals in the opening and closing minutes of the game saw Ashton take all 3 points with a 2-0 win.

Ellis Storey began the game at left back with Michael Emmott pushing farther forward. Lewis Carr started alongside Sam Purcicoe in the centre of the defence. Ben Harris dropped to the bench which also included Ellis Rhule signed in the week as additional cover for the goal keeper position.

Grantham got off to the worst possible start when after just 2 minutes Ashton’s Adam Morning cut in from the left only to be fouled just outside the area and Chris Baguley drove home the free kick to give Ashton the lead. Ashton had the best of the opening 5 minutes but Grantham had a good chance on 9 minutes when Michael Emmott was played in by Alex Simmons but from a good position he put his shot wide. Aston keeper Paul Philips saved a Rhys Lewis header on 15 minutes as Grantham pressed for an equaliser. Ashton had a spell of pressure without troubling Richard Dearle in the Grantham goal. Grantham returned to the attack and they won the first corner of the game on 25minutes when a Simmons cross was headed behind by an Ashton defender. Two minutes later a deep cross from McGhee was headed back across goal by Emmott only for the ball to be cleared away by an Ashton defender. Ashton’s Dale Johnson latched on to a through ball on 29 minutes but the attack was ended by the referees whistle for a foul on Lewis Carr. Adam Morning ran at the Grantham defence but when he fed Eddie Toner the Ashton strikers shot from distance was wide of the target. Richard Dearle punched away an Ashton corner on 35 minutes and when the ball was played back in he made an excellent full length save from a Jason Gorton header at the expense of another corner. Grantham ended the half strongly. Rhys Lewis’s strike on 42 minutes following a Simmons pass looked to be goal bound until Philips pulled off an outstanding save to maintain Ashton’s lead.

Grantham began the second half on the attack with Ben Saunders being caught narrowly offside following an Emmott cross. Grantham had a shout for a penalty when Rhys Lewis went down in the box on 49 minutes but referee Mr Underwood gave goal kick. Ashton’s Chris Baguley crossed into the Grantham area on 51 minutes Grantham had several attempts to clear the ball before finally it went behind for a corner. Grantham introduced Lee Shaw for Alex Simmons on 58 minutes and Shaw immediately saw his cross hacked away by an Ashton defender. Grantham continued to push for an equaliser and on 63 minutes Ben Saunders played in Michael Emmott but his shot was touched over by Philips for a corner. Grantham made a second substitution 69 minutes with Ben Harris replacing Jamie McGhee. Ashton forced two corners on 70 minutes before Grantham returned to the attack with Emmott shooting at Philips. Grantham had a second shout for a penalty on 79 minutes when Lee Shaw went down in the box but again Mr Underwood waived the appeals away. Tragedy struck for the Gingerbreads on 86 minutes when Danny Meadows back pass was short and Ashton substitute Martin Pilkington won the challenge with Richard Dearle and was able to run the ball into the empty net. Grantham had one final chance when Ben Saunders turned in the box following a Ben Harris pass only to see his shot come back off the post with Philips beaten. Ashton saw out the 5 added minutes to secure the win.

Grantham
R Dearle, D Meadows, E Storey, M Hollingsworth, S Purcicoe, L Carr, J McGhee (B Harris 69), R Lewis, A Simmons (L Shaw 58) B Saunders, M Emmott
Subs not used J Beckett, D Martin, E Rhule.

Ashton
P Philips, A Frost, S Mason, J Gorton, J Connor, M Lees, C Baguley (M Pilkington 60), G Gee, E Toner, D Johnson (W Haining 83) A Morning (B McKenna 71)
Subs not used J Melia, B Wharton

Referee Mr D Underwood

Free kicks conceded – Grantham 9 Ashton 12

Corner count – Grantham 4 Ashton 6

Attendance 144