Gingerbreads Get a Point at Workington

Danny Meadows scores from the spot to get Gingerbreads a point in added time

An added time penalty from Danny Meadows gave the Gingerbreads a well-deserved point at Workington.
Grantham went into the game with the same starting line-up that began the game at Skelmersdale. With Jamie McGhee injured and Stefan Bilyk getting game time with Harrowby Grantham named only 3 substitutes for the game.
On a very heavy surface Grantham began the game on the front foot with Rhys Lewis heading over in the opening minutes and then Lee Shaw bringing a fine save from Alex Mitchell in the Workington goal. Grantham forced 2 corners in the first 5 minutes of the game but Workington countered and the dangerous Conor Tinnion brought a save from Jake Turner after 5 minutes. Grantham continued to press and Michael Emmott tested Mitchell on 6 minutes. Workington came more into the game and Turner had to punch clear a 35 yard effort from Workington’s Scott Allison on 9 minutes and a minute later Anthony Wright burst through on the right but his ball across evaded everyone and was cleared. Ben Saunders found himself one on one with keeper Mitchell on 15 minutes but the Workington keeper blocked his shot but a previous flag for offside would have ruled out the effort anyway. With the pitch cutting up both sides were battling for every ball. Workington had a spell of pressure around the 20 minute mark with Joe McGee shooting over from the edge of the box and Scott Allison just failing to get onto the end of a cross from Jake Simpson. Emmott burst through for Grantham on 35 minutes but couldn’t control the ball on the difficult surface and it ran through to Mitchell in the Workington goal. Mitchell dropped a cross on 36 minutes but recovered to block Hollingsworth’s shot. Tinnion got in behind the Grantham back line on 44 minutes but was adjudged narrowly offside. The half ended with a chance for Lee Shaw. The Grantham Striker got past his marker but again Mitchell came out to deny Grantham the opening goal.
Workington had an early scare in the second half when Mitchell miskicked a back pass but recovered just in time to deny Ben Saunders a tap in. Jake Turner dealt with a couple of crosses and at the other end Lee Shaw got nothing when he went down in the box. Workington came close to taking the lead on 56 minutes when Galinski cleared Tinnions goal bound shot off the line and 2 minutes later the same player broke down the right but his final shot was well over Turners goal. The game was opening up as both sides tired on the heavy surface. Rhys Lewis saw his shot blocked before Galinski blocked a drive from Tinnion on 62 minutes. Lewis Carr got in a saving tackle on Allison as the Workington striker threatened. Workington finally broke the deadlock on 65 minutes when Allison burst through to beat Turner. Grantham immediately introduced Leandro Browne and Ben Harris for Dylan Burns and Michael Emmott. Workington came close to a second goal on 69 minutes but Turner spread himself to deny Robbie Hebson at the expense of a corner. Grantham brought on Grant Ryan for the limping Galinski on 76 minutes as Grantham pushed on for an equaliser and came close to getting it on 79 minutes when Mitchell superbly tipped over a Ben Saunders header after Ryan had flicked the ball on. Mitchell produced another first class save from a Ben Saunders near post header from a corner. Workington were hanging on to their lead as the game went into 4 minutes of added time. With at least 3 of those minutes gone Leandro Browne went down in the box following a challenge from Tinnion and referee Mr Lamb pointed immediately to the spot and Danny Meadows stepped up to convert the penalty to give Grantham the point their performance over 90 minutes fully deserved.
Grantham
J Turner, D Meadows, E Storey, M Hollingsworth, S Galinski (G Ryan 76), L Carr, D Burns (L Browne 65), R Lewis, L Shaw, B Saunders, M Emmott (B Harris 65)
Subs not used – None

Workington
A Mitchell, J Simpson, G Rowntree, K May, J Calvert, A Wright (S Smith 90) R Hebson (M Tymon 69), J Earle, S Allison, J McGee, C Tinnion.
Subs not used – R McCartney, K Grandison, J Jamieson.

Referee Mr B Lamb

Red Cards – None
Yellow Cards – None

Free Kicks Conceded – Grantham 9 Workington 7

Corner Count – Grantham 6 Workington 5

Attendance 476