In an attacking game played at a quick pace throughout, once Grantham got on top, they never looked like doing anything other than recording a win.

“We did a good job tonight.” Said Paul Rawden. “We played some good football and were too strong for them where it counted. Although we had to put together a makeshift back four, I thought we were on top across all areas of the park.”

It took ten minutes for the Gingerbreads to settle into the game before a Craig Westcarr free kick was turned over the crossbar by Alex Lait in the home goal. Cleethorpes were playing some good football themselves and showed their attacking intent a couple of minutes later when Andy Taylor squared a long ball to Brody Robertson, but he fired over the top of the goal.

Gregg Smith and Ryan Hall had chance for the Gingerbreads and Sam Andrew made a good low save from Josh Batty before Grantham opened up a lead they would never relinquish. Hall and Danny Racchi had both brought saved from Lait and Grantham forced a series of corners as they piled on the pressure. On 32 minutes, a deep Racchi corner was powerfully met by Gregg Smith to open the scoring.

Three minutes before the break, Grantham doubled their lead. Westcarr took on the home defence and delivered a weighted cross for James Baxendale. He took it in his stride and crashed home from the edge of the penalty area.

Chib Chilaka came on at half time and made an immediate impact. He battled away to win the ball back from the Cleethorpes defence just a minute into the second half, but had no support to convert his cross. A few minutes later, AJ Adelekan caused panic in the Cleethorpes defence with a direct run, but eventually overplayed the ball and any shooting chance was lost.

Hall began to torment the Cleethorpes left back. Time and again, Elliott Barratt had no answer to Hall’s pace as first the Grantham winger fired in a shot that cannoned off the outside of the post, then he delivered a low cross for Chilaka that led to the Grantham striker firing across the face of goal.

A third Grantham goal was coming and it arrived on 61 minutes. Hall crossed to the near post where a flick from Chilaka gave Jack McGovern a tap in at the far post. Grantham had the ball in the net a couple of minutes later as Hall crossed for Chilaka to had past Lait, but an offside flag kept the score down.

Cleethorpes had possession without really threatening until the 64th minute when they pulled a goal back. Jame Ture played a pass for Batty who picked out substitute Danny Jewell. Jewell’s shot hit Andrew’s post and with the Grantham keeper chasing the ball, Brandon Buckley netted the loose ball.

Grantham returned to the front foot and when Adam Smith joined the attack on 68 minutes, his ball to Chilaka saw the striker try a lob that beat Lait, only for Adam Millson to clear off the line.

Hall and Batty tested their opposite goalkeepers as for a few minutes, Cleethorpes had chances to bring the game closer. With 17 minutes to go, Grantham removed any hope of that. A long clearance from McGovern perfectly found Hall who had beaten the Cleethorpes defence again for speed. He closed in on goal and added a fourth from Grantham with a calm finish.

There was no let up for the home side as Grantham went in search of further goals. James Berrett had one effort blocked and another fly over the crossbar. McGovern tried a cheeky lob from distance with 13 minutes left when a great ball out of defence from Gregg Smith put him in, but Lait pulled off a good save to deny Grantham a fifth goal.

In the final few minutes, Chilaka went close to rounding off a good second half for him and Grantham. Adam Smith and Hall combined to give him a great chance, but the shot went over the bar. Chilaka had the ball in the net for a second time in the last minute when he pounced on the rebound from Ethan Vale’s shot, but an offside flag denied him again.