East League Division 5NW
Grantham 2
Bourne Deeping 3rd 4
Grantham were beaten at home, despite putting in a battling performance in the absence of a host of first team regulars.
With David Nix unavailable and Mark Gray suspended, Grantham handed a debut to Mike Rawlings and recalled Martin Halliday. They also had skipper Benjie Groom struggling with a hamstring problem, leaving them short of genuine attacking options.
Neither gained any real control in the early stages until Grantham were caught on the break and Deeping went in front. The home side had to handle a barrage of shots, all well saved by goalkeeper Will Leadenham, but from a resulting short corner, a shot was cleanly put away by Deeping to double their lead.
Grantham’s half time team talk soon paid off with Sam MacAllister making a beautiful run through the middle, taking the ball past three players and surprising Deeping with a shot from the top of the circle that passed two defenders and beat the keeper.
But Grantham’s joy was short lived as Deeping quickly scored again.
With Joe Starks sent off, Deeping soon took advantage of 10-man Grantham and put a short corner flick into the top corner.
Grantham responded with some good play on the wing from Rawlings, and then a fine ball through to Mark Pearce saw him slot past the goalkeeper to reduce the final deficit.
MacAllister was named as the Harrison Green man of the match.