Grantham Win Local Derby

Grantham Win 3-1 at Stamford

Grantham came out on top of this local derby game against Stamford to record their third successive league victory.
On a very wet surface that was only just playable Stamford attacked first with Jake Turner collecting a through ball as Stamford’s Jake Duffy closed in. Grantham countered and Ben Saunders saw his header from a Danny Meadows cross go wide. Stamford returned to the attack and on 7 minutes Duffy whipped in a cross from the right which went across the Grantham goal without anyone getting a touch. Two minutes later Stamford went ahead. Paul Malone got his head to a corner and when this was only partially cleared he followed up to fire home. Grantham came close to an equaliser when Ben Saunders chipped the ball over Stamford keeper Ashley Timms from the edge of the area only to see the ball come back off the bar with the keeper beaten. The Grantham striker was unlucky again on 18 minutes when his shot hit the bar with Timm’s again beaten. Brad McGowan headed over from a free kick and Timms saved with his legs after the lively Lee Shaw had worked an opening. Grantham’s pressure told on 25 minutes when following a run from Jamie McGhee Danny Meadows curled a superb shot into the top corner from 25 yards to put Grantham level. Jake Turner punched out a Stamford cross on 27 minutes with the ball falling to Stamford’s Tom McGowan who shot went well over the bar. Grantham returned to the attack and Michael Hollingsworth’s 25 yard strike was saves by Timms . Jordan Smith got in a header towards the Grantham goal on 34 minutes but it lacked power and was easily collected by Turner. Greg smith had a chance for Stamford in the final minute of the half when he met a deep cross at the far post but directed his header wide of the opposite post and the half ended with the score line a one all.
Stamford introduced substitute Ellis Myles for Andrew Wright at half time. Grantham with wind advantage began the half pushing forward and went in from after just 2 minutes when Lee Shaw got a touch in the box and Michael Hollingsworth fired past Timms to put Grantham ahead. Brad McGowan got in a good saving tackle on Stamford’s Elliott Hodge when the Stamford winger threatened on 57 minutes but it was Grantham who were dictating the play and Ben Saunders had a chance on 59 minutes but was thwarted by times blocking his shot with his legs as the Grantham striker advanced on goal. Michael Hollingsworth had a shot charged down after 64 minutes as Grantham continued to take the game to Stamford and the gingerbreads added another goal a minute later when Danny Meadows fired in a free kick from fully 40 yards which deceived keeper Timms and when the ball came back off his legs the ever alert Lee Shaw was on hand to pick up the pieces and net Grantham’s third goal. Stamford made a double substitution on 69 minutes as they tried to get back into the game with Andrew Philips and former Gingerbread Tom Batchelor replacing Jon Challinor and Jordan Smith. Philips fired a free kick wide on 73 minutes but it was Grantham who almost added a 4th goal on 77 minutes. A weak kick out from Timms fell to Ben Saunders but when the Grantham striker returned the ball it went narrowly over. Lee Shaw burst through on 80 minutes and it took a good saving tackle from Stamford’s Brad Gascoigne to prevent him from advancing on the Stamford goal. Stamford got several crosses into the Grantham box in the last few minutes of the game but the Gingerbread defence dealt with them all. Grantham introduced Aiden Beckett for Jamie McGhee 85 minutes and then Aiden Kirby returning from injury came on for Ben Harris in the final minute of proper time as Grantham comfortably saw out the 3 minutes of time added by referee Mr Hopton to secure all three points.

Grantham
J Turner, D Meadows, M Emmott, M Hollingsworth, B McGowan, S Purcicoe, J McGhee (J Beckett 85), R Lewis, L Shaw, B Saunders, B Harris (A Kirby 90)
Subs not used L Gorman, E Sweeting

Stamford
A Timms, J Challinor (T Batchelor 68), N Fox, P Malone, B Gascoigne, T McGowan, J Duffy, A Wright (E Myles 46), G Smith, J Smith (A Philips 68), E Hodge
Subs not used L Carr, S Richards

Referee N Hopton

Yellow Cards Grantham 1 Stamford 1
Red Card 0

Attendance 383

Free Kicks Conceded Grantham 16 Stamford 6

Corner Count Grantham 9 Stamford 8