South Kesteven Sports Stadium, home of Grantham Town based in Lincolnshire and play their trade in Step 4 of the Non League Pyramid in the Northern Premier League Division One East. Nicknamed the “Gingerbreads” due to the town’s proud history of gingerbread making.
My 300th ground!! It’s an interesting decision for me tonight as this ground is the most criticised ground on the FANA Fan Podcast over the years by groundhoppers in particular due to the running track around the pitch. However, the stands due get a big praise so my view will be an intriguing one.
Grantham Town vs Long Eaton United is the game, Grantham battling relegation again after finishing bottom of Step 3 last season… Not looking good for them at the moment whereas Long Eaton are languishing in midtable. I hope that means goals goals goals of course!
So straight to the M1, on to the A57 and off down the A1 which sees me here with around half an hour till kick off. £10 to get in here! Right… Is that a familiar face? Jas Colliver’s dad Kevin is here! A former work colleague of mine along with Jas of course and there is Jas on the pitch, Assistant Manager here, can he save Grantham from back to back relegations? We have our teams, this could be a pivotal moment in the season’s of these 2 clubs, let’s roll on!
Kick Off! “Come on Grantham!” A bit of noise from the stand opposite! A very slow start to this game here… “It’s like watching paint dry this!” Says Kevin, I have to agree…
26 minutes in and Grantham have a throw in on the left, it’s a long one into the middle, it’s headed down and it comes for Chris O’Grady to volley… Over!
38 minutes now and Long Eaton hit it forward, the keeper comes and will get there… He’s hit straight against Walker for Long Eaton and what is he going to do…? He plays it back to Gordon… Grantham get bodies behind the ball and force Long Eaton back.
A very poor first half finishes with the scores at 0-0. Meanwhile at Brunton Park: “Carlisle United 0-4 Mansfield Town” unreal! Would a 3 hour trip have been worth it tonight?! The teams come back out for the second half and it’s great to catch up with Jas here tonight but can he grind out a result in this second half?
Second half, 48th minute and Grantham play down the right, it’s played forward into the box and it’s flicked on for Chris O’Grady to shoot running in… Wide!
63 minutes now and Long Eaton come forward down the right, they get into the box, hesitation… It’s played across… It’s come for Gordon to shoot… Blocked! It comes back for Fearon… Who plays a poor pass straight out of play for a throw in… Woeful!
68th minute and Long Eaton get into the box on the right, it’s played to Jebbison who will get to the loose ball to shoot… Great block there but it comes for Marshall to shoot from 25 yards out… Straight at the keeper!
72 minutes now and Long Eaton win a free kick from around 25 yards out outside the box to the right, Jamie Walker steps up and shoots… And he finds the bottom corner!! Brilliant free kick!! Long Eaton take the lead here! 0-1!
Can Grantham respond here…? They’re not making it easy for themselves… The fans are getting frustrated! A real lack of urgency here tonight with stray passes and a lack of enthusiasm from the team as a whole sadly…
Into added time and Grantham have a free kick on the edge of the box, number 17 plays it in… No one attacking and the keeper claims it… The story of Grantham’s night…
Play goes on… Grantham have won a free kick on the right hand side in a good crossing position, it’s now or never! The keeper is up! It’s played into the middle… It’s headed away but only to Matt Tootle who controls and volleys… Well wide… That’s it! Referee blows for full time as the ball floats away. It’s a big win for Long Eaton and a damaging defeat for Grantham…
FT: Grantham Town 0-1 Long Eaton United
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 3/10 – The Grantham fans gave it a good go but this ground isn’t one well known for creating an atmosphere sadly.
- The Ground: 5/10 – I don’t like this ground sadly, however, I really do like the stands! But I just wish it didn’t have that blooming running track around it! It’s the furthest away from the pitch that I can recall from a football pitch at a ground… Without that running track and with these stands hovering right next to pitch, some groundhoppers may describe it as “groundhopping porn” as the big stand in particular is really impressive!
- Expense: 4/10 – £30 for fuel, £10 to get in, £4.25 for a pin badge and £4 for food and drink, was it worth it? No! A very poor game sadly…
- Overall Experience: 6/10 – Great to catch up with the Collivers tonight but just a real shame that the game was really slow…
18/40
Did Grantham’s ballboys/girls speed up after the goal? Been there twice before with my club and went a goal down both times. Ballboys/ girls were very slow, when we equalised they sped up.
Yeah still there mate! Didn’t really notice a change in speed tbh