from the last game before lockdown. The Gingerbreads dominated the game, making chances throughout and seeing some desperate defending denying them the goal they deserved.

“It was definitely two points dropped.” Said the Gingerbreads Manager. “We’ve had 18 shots tonight and I can’t get my head round how they’ve kept a clean sheet.”

Grantham opened well in a game that saw them continue where they left off against Yaxley, albeit in a game that was more of a battle. Liam Hardy had the first chance of the night for Grantham after only four minutes. He found himself in space on the edge of the Stalybridge penalty area and tried to curl an effort round Grant Shenton, but just missed the top corner.

The visitors showed attacking endeavour themselves a few minutes later, when Stephen O’ Halloran got his head to a corner, but he couldn’t find the target either.

Grantham began to get on top of a Stalybridge side who closed the Gingerbreads down quickly, but were undone by some good play from the home side. Ash Worsfold had an effort blocked from the second of two corners just before the quarter hour mark, the Hardy had two chances a few minutes later. He seemed to get away from the Stalybridge defence inside the penalty area, but couldn’t get a shot away. He and Worsfold then combined, but Jordan Helliwell took the ball away from Hardy at the last second.

Berat Ustabasi was the danger man for the visitors. He went on a long run at the Grantham penalty area in the 23rd minute. Starting on the halfway line, he was tracked all the way by Aiden Walker and forced to shoot wide. Ustabasi went closer on 32 minutes when Charley Doyles’ shot was blocked and dropped for Ustabasi. His shot beat Jan Budtz, but came back off the post.

The Gingerbreads had hit the woodwork themselves a few minutes earlier. Nathan Dyer was blocked off at the end of a good run at the visitors defence. Hardy pounced on the loose ball and fired in an effort that hit the post. Jack Stobbs got on the end of the rebound, only to see his shot cleared off the line.

Stobbs should have put Grantham in front 8 minutes before the break. Worsfold and Hardy closed down Shelton as the visitors’ keeper tried to clear his lines. Between them they got the ball square to Stobbs. With an unguarded goal to aim at, recovering defenders put enough pressure on Stobbs to force him to lift his shot and it flew over the crossbar.

For the opening tem minutes of the second half, Grantham weren’t quite quick enough in the 50:50 challenges and Stalybridge got a foothold in the game. Doyle won the ball off Michael Hollingsworth and set up Jordan Helliwell with space to shoot. Budtz got down well to save his effort at the expense of a corner. Five minutes into the second period, good work again by Walker prevented Lewis Salmon getting a shot away in what turned out to be the last serious attempt on goal from Stalybridge.

Grantham took control and had three chances in a minute. Dyer was denied a shot by a desperate challenge from O’Halloran. From the corner, Ryan Holland’s header came back off the post and Hardy couldn’t squeeze the ball homer.

Remaye Campbell came off the bench on 61 minutes and almost scored with his first touch. He controlled a cross into the penalty area and turned well. Campbell got his shot away, but it went inches past the post.

Grantham’s back line continued to ensure that the Gingerbreads goal wasn’t threatened. Tom Ward covered behind Ben Turner to keep Helliwell out and Budtz gathered a cross from Barlow at the second attempt as Stalybridge were denied.

The visitors’ goal bore a charmed life as Worsfold battled hard to win the ball and feed Turner. The Gingerbreads full back hit a low shot that trickled past the post with Shenton beaten. Grantham then won a corner, but Hollands’ header flew wide of the mark. Doran was next to be denied by a good save from Shenton before the final chance fell to Campbell from Holland’s header, but the visitors snuggled the ball off the Gingerbreads strikers’ toe to leave a frustrating scoreline for Grantham.

Report by Graham Cowell
Photo courtesy of Oliver Atkin Photography