in Whitby’s first home game of the season. Gingerbreads boss Martin McIntosh pulled no punches after the game, describing the performance as the worst he has seen in his ten years managing in the Northern Premier.

“We deserved absolutely nothing from the game.” Said McIntosh. “Whitby won the first balls, the second balls; they were so far ahead of us it was unbelievable. Absolutely shocking. It’s unacceptable, our fans have travelled a long way and deserve better than that.”

The home side started brightly and had the ball in the net after two minutes. Jameel Ible got in on the Grantham right, but was flagged offside. In the early exchanges, Grantham spent a lot of time in their own half and conceded a lot of free kicks.

A rare foray forward by Grantham after 14 minutes led to nothing. Michael Hollingsworth sent Ash Worsfold away wide, but there was no-one in the middle when Worsfold delivered his low cross.

Jan Budtz had to be alert a number of times throughout the game to a ball over the top of the Grantham defence, rushing outside his box after 18 minutes to beat Bradley Fewster to the ball when Jacob Hazel tried to send him in on goal.

Two minutes later, Fewster got the opening goal. A cross-field ball sent James Martin racing down the Grantham right. His delivery into the six yard box saw Whitby have three stabs at goal as no-one put a foot on the ball. Fewster poked home from a yard out.

Manasse Kianga put a header wide from Nathan Dyers’ cross, and then was the player replaced after 28 minutes as McIntosh decided to put an extra man up front to give Worsfold support. Two minutes later, Grantham were further behind.

Hazel raised his hands and deflected Tom Wards’ clearance, an offence he was booked for in the second half, but was missed on this occasion by referee Mr Conroy. The ball dropped to Adam Gell in the centre circle and he played it back for Fewster. The Whitby striker turned past his marker on the edge of the Grantham penalty area and fired past Budtz into the bottom corner of the net.

The Gingerbreads tactical chance began to have some effect as the half drew to a close, but the chances created only led to weak efforts on goal. Ward and Remaye Campbell both had chances from Bard Abbot’s free kick and Dyers’ cross, but Whitby goalkeeper Shane Bland was able to gather both efforts without stretching himself.

Whitby went close again just before the break. A deep cross from 35 yards saw Martin behind the Gingerbreads back line, but on the edge of the six yard box, the cross just eluded his outstretched foot.

Grantham were back out early for the second half after a short but sharp team talk and looked brighter as the second half got under way. Three minutes into the second period, Dyer delivered another good cross. Alistair Taylor got on the end of it, but couldn’t get any power into his shot.

Hazel had two chances for the home side as Whitby hit back at Grantham. Both times Budtz did enough to deny the home striker. Saving his 54th minute effort, then getting out quickly again on 62 minutes to keep Grantham in the game. The Gingerbreads best chance came after 65 minutes. Worsfold battled hard to keep the ball and put Campbell away. His cross into the six yard box was scrambled clear by the home defence.

Budtz was at his best twice in two minutes as the home side went close to a third goal. Fewster beat three players on a mazy run before being taken out by Hollingsworth. Mr Conroy waved play on, booking Hollingsworth later. Mackenzie Heaney curled in a shot that Budtz stretched to turn round his right hand post. From the corner, Ible also tested the Grantham goalkeeper, but again Budtz turned the shot wide.

Grantham had a good penalty shout turned down 12 minutes from the end. Abbot picked up a low cross inside the penalty area. He was tackled as he was about to shoot and went down under the challenge, but Mr Conroy ignored the shouts for a spot kick.

Grantham couldn’t raise their game any further in the last 12 minutes and Whitby defended comfortable and created further chances themselves. Leon Hawkins and Hazel combined to set up Marcus Giles. His shot took a deflection for a corner and in the last minute, Abbott was in the right place to clear a dangerous cross from Heaney.

Report by Graham Cowell