Again, it was one of very few chances the visitors had that decided the game, but the Gingerbreads had more than enough chances to have taken the three points themselves.

“I thought we played really well tonight.” Said Grantham manager Martin McIntosh after the game. “We created lots of chances, should have had a penalty ourselves, nothing was going for us and we must keep on believing in what we are doing.”

The Gingerbreads were on their game from the word go. A much sharper performance than in recent games saw Grantham take the game to Matlock and pin the visitors inside their own half. Chances began to come from the 10th minute onwards. Jack Stobbs’ great delivery to the far post from a corner caused problems for Matlock who just managed to smuggle to ball clear.

A minute later, Grantham had the ball in the net. Stobbs put in another perfect delivery and Ash Worsfold headed home, only to see an offside flag rule out his effort. Crosses continued to come in from both sides for Grantham, Nathan Dyer put the ball in from the right wing, but just too high for Worsfold.

Alexander Byrne had fired a volley over the top in a rare Matlock attack after 18 minutes, but the visitors took the lead from the penalty spot midway through the first half. One penalty appeal was turned down by Mr Mason, but Byrne put the ball straight back into the Grantham 18 yard box. Joseph Bunney went down under a challenge and this time the referee pointed to the spot. Declan Walker made no mistake from 12 yards.

The goal seemed to knock the Gingerbreads back and for the next ten minutes, it was the visitors who were the stronger side. Crosses from Byrne and Bunney were cleared by the Gingerbreads defence with Reece Kendall and Byrne himself closing in on goal.

Towards the end of the half, Grantham got their game going again and forced four corners in three minutes. A short kick to Dyer resulted in a perfect cross for Ben Middleton. His firm header was well saved by Shaun Rowley. His second header from the resulting corner was easier for the Matlock keeper to take.

Both Jan Budtz and Rowley were in the right place to take shots from Callum Chippendale and Dyer as the half drew to a close. It was Grantham who came out on the front foot after the break, Worsfold and Stobbs combined to almost put Worsfold in, but good defending by Ryan Qualter snuffed out the chance.

Just before the hour mark, Grantham claimed a penalty, but were denied by Mr Mason. From a corner, Tom Ward appealed loudly for handball immediately in front of him, but the referee was unmoved.

In a half of almost one way traffic, Grantham had another penalty appeal turned down four minutes later. Ben Turner sent Stobbs down the left and his cross was met inside the six yard box by Worsfold. He appeared to be pushed as he met the ball and it flew over the top with neither Mr Mason nor his assistant giving a foul.

Grantham kept up the pressure and Stobbs was involved in most of the good moves. Another dangerous delivery into the six yard box found Worsfold again, but from three yards out, he couldn’t get high enough to hit the target and his header flew over the top of the Matlock goal. Ben Middleton was next to deliver the ball into the danger zone, Worsfold couldn’t quite reach his teasing cross and Stobbs couldn’t get enough power on his shot to trouble Rowley.

Matlock’s only real chance of the half was presented to them two minutes from time. A poor header from Ryan Holland saw Budtz charge out of his area to close down Osebi Abadaki. The Matlock striker beat Budtz, but was forced wide enough for Holland to get back and recover the situation.

Grantham’s night of frustration was ended in the fourth minute of stoppage time. A long throw from Middleton dropped in the penalty area to Wards’ feet, but with five white shirts around him, Ward was unable to get a shot away

Report by Graham Cowell
Photo courtesy of the Grantham Journal/Toby Roberts Photography