Grantham Town are beaten by Darlaston Town in the Northern Premier League
More midweek upheaval meant the Gingerbreads took the field against Darlaston Town under their fourth manager of the season on Saturday.
Tom Ford only had a few days to put together his side for the Northern Premier League Midlands Division match.
Despite the 2-1 defeat, Ford saw some positives from the performance of his young side.
"The lads have shown character," said Ford.
"Some young lads have got on the pitch and it’s been a good, spirited performance from us.
"The result didn't go how we wanted but they showed character.
"We struggled to get out of our half at times, but in the first half we still had chances to score and creating the opportunities was the main thing for us.
"The second half was down to the spirit of the boys, they listened at half time and came out and Kaden Scott scored a great goal for us. He is one of our under 18’s and has done superbly."
Darlaston started the game well and, with the wind in their favour, kept Grantham mostly in their own half for the opening quarter of an hour.
The Gingerbreads defended well and goalkeeper James Leverton wasn’t tested but things changed for Grantham after 14 minutes.
The Gingerbreads gave the ball away too close to their own goal and Darlaston forced a couple of corners and swung the second into the near post.
Leverton called and came for the ball but, in a mix-up at the near post, only punched the ball into his own net.
The goal settled Grantham and they began to push the visitors back.
A big shout for handball by Darlaston goalkeeper Sam Amos was ignored by referee Mr Karia before a long ball for Harry Olivant was just too far ahead of the Grantham striker for him to control.
Twice in two minutes the Gingerbreads came close to an equaliser.
On 26 minutes, a loose ball was gathered by Tom Pawson and he let fly from distance. Amos just got enough on the ball to tip it onto the crossbar.
A minute later a cross was missed by the Darlaston defence and came through for Olivant. Amos scrambled across his goal and just did enough to force Olivant to shoot into the side netting.
The game swung back to the visitors, but once again solid defending denied Darlaston clear chances.
When a deep cross was played back into the danger zone, Masai Arbouin got enough of a boot on the ball to deflect it away for a corner.
Two moments just before half-time epitomised Grantham’s season.
With a minute to go to the break, a loose ball off a Darlaston defender dropped for Lewis Darlington inside the penalty area. He stabbed a shot at goal, but straight at Amos.
The visitors immediately switched play to the other end and a half clearance by the Gingerbreads defence dropped to Hayden Carson. With more time than he should have been allowed, Carson drove a shot into the top corner of the net from 22 yards out to send Grantham in at the break two goals down.
Two minutes into the second half, Darlaston should have extended their lead.
Grantham presented the ball to Ryan Winwood when they should have cleared their lines. He squared the ball perfectly for Kieran Cook with an open goal, but somehow from 10 yards out Cook missed the target.
The Gingerbreads took advantage of their luck and began to have the better of the play.
On 63 minutes, they got back into the game with a fine goal from Scott.
Darlington battled well to be able to drive a low cross into the Darlaston penalty area. It came through to the far post where Scott calmly stroked the ball past Amos into the net.
The visitors were on the back foot and twice within five minutes of the goal Grantham came close to levelling the game.
Olivant showed good control to bring down a long pass. Pawson took over but fired his shot over the crossbar.
A free kick a minute later found Jevin Seaton, but his effort was deflected for a corner.
Darlaston recovered their composure after almost throwing away a two-goal lead and began to manage the last 20 minutes.
The game became scrappy, littered with stoppages and yellow cards for the visitors for time wasting as they saw the game out with neither side threatening further goals.
