Shaw Goal Wins It For Gingerbreads

Lee Shaw's goal gives Grantham a 1-0 win at Skelmersdale

Grantham made it back to back wins with a 1-0 win at Skelmersdale.
Adam Stevens stuck with same starting line-up that has beaten Whitby in the previous game with the only change being new signing Leandro Browne replacing Mason Holwell on the bench.
Grantham were on the front foot from the off and Ben Saunders hooked a shot over after just 4 minutes. Grantham forced two early corners and from the second Skelmersdale keeper Martin Fearon punched clear. Skelmersdale’s first threat came on 6 minutes when Chris Almond got on to the end of free kick but Jake Turner was down quickly at his near post to save. Grantham were taking the game to the home side and Dylan Burns cut across on 8 minutes but his shot from 25 yards went narrowly over. Lee Shaw got a cross in on 10 minutes which was cleared by a defender for a throw in. Grantham were closing down all over the pitch and when Skelmersdale threatened Galinski and Carr stood firm for the Gingerbreads. Lee Shaw got onto the end of a Burns pass on 14 minutes but was narrowly offside. The goal that Grantham were threatening came a minute later. Ellis Storey headed forward and Lee Shaw got wrong side of his marker and as Fearon came out the Grantham striker lofted the ball over him and into the net to give Grantham a deserved lead. Michael Emmott almost increased Grantham’s lead on 17 minutes but Fearon mad a great one handed stop and the loose ball was cleared after goalmouth scramble. Jake Turner was twice called into action around 20 minutes when first he came out to punch away a Skelmersdale free kick and then got down to save comfortably from Kenny Strickland. Grantham went close to increasing their lead on 26 minutes. Ben Saunders challenged keeper Fearon for a cross ball. The ball appeared to be heading into the net but seemed to spin backwards and defender Valter Fwernandez was able to get back to head off the line at the expense of a corner. Grantham continued to threaten with Dylan Burns 25 yard free kick being saved by Fearon who was almost immediately called into action again to stop Burns 25 yard effort. Almond had a rare shot for Skelmersdale on 39 minutes but Galinski was on hand to head clear. Grantham ended the half on the attack. Fearon tipped over a Hollingsworth header and then the Skelmersdale keeper saved well from the same player at his near post. Lee Shaw then saw his rising drive tipped over by Fearon in the final minute of the half
Obviously not happy with the first half performance Skelmersdale made 3 changes at half time and they came much more into the game in the second period. Ellis Storey got across to clear on 47 minutes. Skelmersdale pushed Grantham back. Turner came out of his area on 56 minutes but didn’t win the ball but Lewis Carr was on hand to clear. Substitute Shaun Tuck was causing Grantham problems and when he won a corner Turner had to come out to punch clear the kick. Grantham’s defence was standing firm as Skelmersdale pushed for an equaliser and were still dangerous on the break. Lee Shaw just failed to get onto the end of a Storey through ball on 62 minute. Skelmersdale came back and substitute Fosu – Mensah had a chance on 66 minutes but put his header wide. Ben Saunders worked an opening a minute later but was denied by a defender as he was about to shoot. Grantham introduced Jamie McGhee for Dylan Burns on 72 minutes. Skelmersdale went close on 75 minutes when Stefan Galinski headed off the line from a corner and a minute later Tuck saw his overhead kick go wide. Grantham’s defence was comfortably containing the threat from Skelmersdale. Grant Ryan replaced Lee Shaw with 6 minutes remaining and Ben Harris came on for Michael Emmott on 87 minutes. Four minutes were added by the referee but Grantham saw those out to take all 3 points from the game.

Grantham
J Turner, D Meadows, E Storey, M Hollingsworth, S Galinski, L Carr, D Burns (J McGhee 72) R Lewis, L Shaw (G Ryan 84) B Saunders, M Emmott (B Harris 87)
Subs not used S Bilyk, L Browne

Skelmersdale
M Fearon, V Fernandez, L Corrigan, R McIntosh, D Murphy, T Donaldson (P Mooney 46), R Booth (S Tuck 46), P Woolcott, M Hazeldine (A Fosu-Mensah), K Strickland, C Almond
Subs not used S Holden, J Thomas

Referee N Cox

Red Cards 0
Yellow Cards – Grantham 4 Skelmersdale 1

Free Kicks Conceded – Grantham 11 Skelmersdale 8

Corner Count – Grantham 11 Skelmersdale 6

Attendance 239