First defeat for Gingerbreads

Despite that, it was only a late penalty that denied the Gingerbreads any share of the points.

“I think they did a job on us.” Said Grantham Manager Martin McIntosh. “We didn’t really get our game going. I was disappointed with the penalty as we’d told the team that Gareth Peet wins them so many with exactly that kind of run.”

The visitors had the strong breeze behind them for the first half, but it took them a quarter of an hour to begin to put pressure on the Gingerbreads defence. Prior to that, the only incident of note came after 6 minutes when referee Mr Nelson spoke to both Ashley Worsfold and Atherton’s Rick Smith after an off the ball incident.

Long throws from Clive Smith caused Grantham problems and after 19 minutes, his delivery was flicked on at the near post. Jordan Darr stretched to reach the ball at the far post and consequently lifter his shot over the top of the Gingerbreads crossbar. A minute later, he was in again behind the Grantham defence, but Tom Ward got back to deny him as he set himself to shoot.

The Gingerbreads battled back and forged a chance of their own after 22 minutes. Manesse Kianga found Worsfold who turned neatly to get a shot away, but saw his effort deflected wide for a corner.

Atherton pressed hard with the wind at their backs, but for a long time had no impact on the Grantham defence. As the half drew to a close, the visitors pressure began to tell. Ten minutes before the break, Clive Smith had a free header from a corner, but Worsfold was in the right place to clear three yards off his own line.

After forcing another three corners in quick succession, Atherton finally took the lead five minutes from the break. A free kick 25 yards out was placed around five yards more central than the foul which allowed Peet to curl his free kick round the Grantham wall into the corner of the net.

The expected onslaught from Grantham in the second half took a long time to get going. Atherton closed the Gingerbreads down at every opportunity and for 20 minutes kept Grantham largely away from their goal.

Midway through the half, Nathan Dyer began to get a bit of space on the right wing and created goalscoring chances. He picked out Michael Hollingsworth with one cross, but Hollingsworth’s effort was blocked by solid defending. After 67 minutes, however, Dyer set up the equaliser. This time his cross found Niall Doran. His shot took a deflection, but had enough on it to beat Danny Tabener in the Atherton goal.

The visitors continued to frustrate Grantham and had the better chances late in the game. Another free kick taken from the wrong place, this time a good three yards closer to goal than it should have been caused Jan Budtz problems. He saved the initial effort from Marcus Cusani, and then gratefully watched Jack Bannister fire the loose ball wide of the mark.

Bannister started the move that led to the winner with six minutes left. Seemingly coming back from an offside position, there was no flag and Bannister fed Peet down the Grantham right. His run into the box was halted by James Berrett with Mr Nelson giving the foul and pointing to the spot. A stuttering run-up from Kyle Sambor was followed up with a clinical spot-kick to take all three points back to Manchester.