Grantham Town vs Gresley Rovers
Rovers fall at the ninth - Andy Parker - Burton Mail
Gresley's proud 100 per cent record was ended at South Kesteven Sports Stadium on Saturday - leaving Steve Dolby's side to reflect on what might have been.
Poor defending from set pieces, poor finishing and a controversial refereeing decision conspired to swing a game that the Beazer Homes Midland Division leaders could easily have made consecutive victory No 9.
As early as the sixth minute, referee Bullivant made his mark on the match, opting to caution defender Andy Moore for bringing down Richard Wardle as he bore down on the home goal after what turned out to be one of Gresley's few incisive moves of the game.
In the light of changes to the laws of the game, a sending off would have been more appropriate punishment.
Ironically, Moore then emerged as one of the defensive rocks upon which Gresley's hopes foundered, although there was no defender in sight when Paul Acklam directed a free header from Tony Marsden's left wing cross at the keeper with the scores level.
There were plenty of defenders in evidence when Milton Graham aimed a 39th minute free kick towards Gresley's far post, but none was able to prevent Lee Rippin angling a header into the far corner of the net to give the Gingerbreads the lead from what was their first serious attack.
With Grantham cautiously playing more like an away side in the second half, Gresley found their chances at a premium. And when a superb run by Robbie Briscoe from deep in his own half gave Acklam a second scoring chance on the hour, he could, and should, have done better than delay his shot until a defender was able to get back and clear from the goalline.
Grantham's punishment was swift and exacting, Terry Harris stooping to head home from close range after a right wing corner had been flicked on.
Grantham Town (1) 2
Gresley Rovers (0) 0
Scorers: Rippin 39, Harris 69.
Grantham Town: Godwin, Bullimore, Stephenson, Moore, Speed, Talbot, Topliss, Graham, Harris, Rippin, Grocock. Subs: Holmes, Mann.
Gresley Rovers: Aston, Dick, Briscoe, Denby, Evans, Land (Swainston 67), Wardle, Marsden, Smith, Acklam, Taplin (Weston 60).
Gresley man-of-the-match: Robbie Briscoe.
Referee: M K Bullivant (Cambridge).
Attendance: 418
