It was a frustrating night for the Gingerbreads as they slipped to a single goal defeat against Buxton.
With Rhys Lewis having not recovered from the late knock he took at Skelmersdale Jack Beckett came into the starting line-up otherwise it was the unchanged team. Buxton had former gingerbread Jamie Jackson on the bench.
Grantham began brightly and Lee Shaw broke into the box after just 2 minutes but chose to pass to his namesake Luke instead of shooting and goalkeeper Budtz was able to intercept the pass. Buxton countered and Bradley Grayson forced Sam Purcicoe into a late clearance on 10 minutes before Lee Shaw again got behind the Buxton defence but his cross to the far post couldn’t find a black and white shirt and the ball went out for a goal kick. Buxton had a chance a minute later but Jake Turner spread himself well to block Lee Bennetts shot. A Purcicoe cross on 16 minutes found Lee Shaw in the box but the striker’s header went narrowly wide. It was end to end stuff and Buxton went close on 19 minutes when Turner failed to get to a cross ball but recovered to collect Bennetts header. Buxton were now taking the game to Grantham and Greg Young went close with a header on 24 minutes. Grantham had a scare on the half hour when Turner allowed a long ball to bounce over him but Purcicoe was on hand to clear the loose ball. Grantham then had the best chance of the half when Joel Bembo-Leta’s back pass was short and Lee Shaw latched on to it but his final shot went over the bar. Buxton had a chance on 36 minutes when Bennett found space in the box but dragged his shot wide. Just when it seemed the half would end goal less Buxton took the lead in time added. Nicky Walker ran at the Grantham defence on the right and somehow from a tight angle drilled the ball home at the far post.
Grantham began the second half on the attack with Lee Shaw and Grant Ryan both having shots on goal. Buxton had a chance on 49 minutes but Niall Doran shot straight at Turner when well placed. Grayson took the ball around Turner on 56 minutes but Lewis Carr was able to clear the ball at the expense of a corner. Danny Meadows worked his way to the bye line on 57 minutes but his final cross went across the goal without anyone getting a touch. Grantham introduced Ben Saunders for Jack Beckett on 58 minutes. Grantham felt they could have had a penalty on the hour when Meadows appeared to be pushed in the box but referee Mr Watson gave nothing. Grantham were now pressing. Luke Shaw saw his 20 yard shot parried by Budtz and a minute later narrowly cleared the bar from a similar position. Grantham brought on Danny Durkin for his league debut for Grant Ryan on 69 minutes and then replaced Luke Shaw with Curtis Burrows on 77 minutes. Burrows twice saw shots go narrowly over and Grantham pressed to the end for an equaliser but Buxton held out and after 4 minutes of added time took all 3 points.