after Lancaster City took advantage of slack defending by the Gingerbreads to take an early three goal lead. Despite playing 70 minutes with ten men, it was a lead they never looked like giving up.

“We gave ourselves a mountain to climb in the first fifteen minutes.” Said Grantham manager Martin McIntosh. “We gave it a good go and their ‘keeper made some good saves from good chances.”

The Gingerbreads had started brightly and took the game to Lancaster in the opening minutes, but found themselves trailing after only 5 minutes. Samuel Baily had far too much space when he ran forward unmarked on the Grantham left. His low cross was met at the near post by Thomas Kilifin and his stooping header beat Jan Budtz at his near post.

There was nothing Budtz could do 8 minutes later when the roles were reversed. Kilifin got a foot in first ahead of Greg Young to touch the ball wide for Bailey. Again unmarked, the full back had time to steady himself and fore past the Grantham goalkeeper.

On 16 minutes, a flat footed Grantham defence was pierced again. Budtz did well to save an initial shot from the edge of the penalty area, but Charlie Bailey seemed the only player to react to the loose ball and under no pressure, tapped into an empty net.

A goal laden first twenty minutes saw Young get his first goal for the Gingerbreads from debutant Jack Stobbs’ free kick. Young's powerful header gave Samuel Ashton no chance in the Lancaster goal. In an unnecessary incident immediately after the goal, Lancaster skipper Andrew Teague kicked out at Young and was shown a red card by referee Mr Saunby.

The game calmed down as Lancaster began to take their time over throw-ins and goal kicks. Grantham were frustrated by a high defensive line that compacted the game and allowed the visitors to close Grantham down and give little chance to set up through balls.

Despite forcing corners, Grantham only went close to a second goal on 25 minutes. A flag kick eluded both Ashton and the incoming Ben Middleton to run wide of the far post.

Liam Hardy came on for the Gingerbreads at half time to give more impetus up front, but it was the visitors who came out strongest after the break looking to restore a three goal lead. Tom Ward had to be in the right place to block an effort from Jacob Wilkinson-Holland after Kilifin and David Norris combined to set up the Preston loanee. Three minutes into the second half, Wilkinson-Holland had a free header from a corner, but couldn’t keep his effort down.

Grantham had a period of sustained pressure before the hour mark, but resilient defending by Lancaster meant Ashton was not troubled. The pressure was broken on 62 minutes when a clearance sent Norris and Wilkinson-Holland two v two against the Grantham defence. Wilkinson-Holland took the ball wide while Norris lost his man in the centre to take the cross and weep the ball into the corner of Budtz’ net.

Ashton became a key player for the visitors for the remainder of the game. He preserved the visitors’ lead on 65 minutes with a good save from Ash Worsfold after he and Hardy opened up the Lancaster defence.

Ashton could do nothing to stop Hardy giving Grantham a lifeline on 69 minutes. A low cross eluded to Lancaster defence to come to Hardy in the centre of the penalty area. He didn’t waste the chance, shooting past Ashton for Grantham’s second goal.

Late in the game, Ashton came to his side’s rescue on a number of occasions. Eight minutes from time, Brad Abbott set up Nathan Dyer. Dyers’ shot brought a good save from the visitors’ keeper. Dyer had another chance a couple of minutes later when Hardy’s header dropped to him, but Ashton challenged well to deny Dyer.

In the dying minutes, Dyer had two more chances, but fired over the top with his first effort and only found Ashton with his second. The Lancaster goalkeeper was in the right place again to stop Hardy’s shot as the game went into injury time and Grantham were left in the bottom three of the Northern Premier League Premier Division.

Report by Graham Cowell