Evo-Stik Northern Premier League
Premier Division
Frickley Athletic 0
Grantham Town 0
Grantham earned what could prove to be a vital point from their trip to Frickley.
Both sides put on a physical game with very few clear chances. With Stocksbridge Park Steels and Kendal both postponed, it was even more important that Grantham got something from the game.
In a frantic and full blooded start, both sides worked for openings that failed to materialise. The Gingerbreads were forced into an early change when Jamie McGhee landed heavily and got up clutching his shoulder. Sam MacVicar came on to replace him.
Grantham got into good positions but failed to deliver a telling cross. Frickley did not threaten until midway through the first half. Jimmy Gaichem put in a good cross that Jake Turner came for, but only half cleared. Lee Ridley cleared away from goal. A clearance from Deon Meikle then almost got Sam MacVicar in, but Frickley goalkeeper Tom Woodhead cleared the ball off his toe.
After 26 minutes, Meikle was caught in two minds as he had time to clear the ball. Luke Hinsley nipped in to rob the Gingerbreads’ defender, but again Ridley got across to clear the danger. A few minutes later, when Meikle was caught in possession once more, Hinsley fed Jason Yates but he shot wide.
Grantham started a spell of good pressure around the half hour mark with a quick set-up from MacVicar for Nathan Watson. Woodhead turned his shot round the post smartly. From the corner, Adie Hawes almost put Grantham in the lead. His header beat Woodhead but Yates was in the right place to clear off the line.
Another corner for Grantham was not fully cleared, Hawes got his head to the ball and a snapshot from T. J. Nightingale was only poked straight at Woodhead.
Play swung back to the other end. Chris Wood picked up a clearance from Ridley and stepped past Hawes; his shot was deflected wide for a corner. Jake Picton then robbed Emeka Nwadike and set up Yates, but he shot well wide of the target.
Grantham’s bad luck with injury in the game hit again just before half time. MacVicar had been holding his shoulder for a while and he came off a minute before the break. In the second half, Tommy Hannigan made it a trio of injury substitutions, picking up a knock blocking a shot from Wood.
Meikle had a chance early in the second half to put Grantham in front but his shot lacked power and was easy for Woodhead to gather. Play continued to swing from end to end again as Hinsley ran at the Grantham defence and laid a pass off for Joe Wilcox. He also hit a poor shot and the chance went.
Both goalkeepers kept scores level within a minute, midway through the second half. Turner was first in action when Kallum Smith lost the ball to Picton. He played a good ball in for Wood but Turner saved well to his left. Immediately at the other end, Alex Troke and Nwadike set up Alistair Asher on the right. Asher hit a fierce shot that Woodhead did well to clear.
Rhys Lewis almost got on the end of an Asher cross 12 minutes from time but could not get any power on his header. Then a minute later, Nightingale laid the ball wide to Smith. He held it well to create space to shoot but Woodhead took his effort well.
In the last 10 minutes, Nightingale put a shot wide while at the other end, Nwadike and Asher both stopped dangerous looking crosses from Chris Howarth. Grantham almost snatched a late winner when Nightingale set up Troke inside the last minute. Woodhead did well again to ensure the game remained scoreless.
Grantham Town: Turner, Hannigan (Asher, 61), Ridley, Meikle, Hawes, Lewis, Watson, Nwadike, McGhee (MacVicar, 9 [Troke, 44]), T. J. Nightingale, Smith. Subs not used: Elliott, Martin. Att: 217.