Northern Premier League
Premier Division
Grantham 1
AFC Flyde 2
AFC Fylde edged this game at The Meres, but were hanging on at the end as Grantham pressed forward in search of an equaliser.
The Gingerbreads gave it everything they could. They dominated the game from the second AFC Flyde goal, but could not get back on level terms in front of a crowd of 220 people.
Fylde looked dangerous going forward early on and Grantham’s keeper Dan Haystead made two good saves in the first 20 minutes.
The home side caused problems on the counter and Gregg Smith went close with a header before he put Grantham ahead on 29 minutes. Michael Towey worked the ball along the by-line before finding Gary King in the box. King slotted the ball through to Smith who beat Fylde keeper Ben Hinchcliffe as he came out.
Fylde drew level on 33 minutes the dangerous Michael Barnes put in an in swinging cross and it eluded everyone to go in at the far post.
The visitors pushed from the off in the second half and should have taken the lead when awarded a penalty just a minute into the half when Matt Blinkhorn was brought down just inside the box but Haystead saved Barnes’ spot kick with his legs.
From the resulting throw in, the ball was crossed into the Grantham box and it was bundled in at the near post by Blinkhorn to give Fylde the lead. Grantham stepped up their game as they sought an equaliser and Hinchcliffe was forced into an excellent save from an Adie Hawes header.
A mix-up between keeper and defender almost let in Grantham sub Nathan Watson but the ball was eventually hacked out for a corner. With Grantham pushing forward Fylde had a chance to wrap things up but Harry Winter blazed over when well placed.
As the game wore on, Grantham pushed harder and harder for an equaliser. They came close to the goal their pressure deserved when King found himself with space in the box but his shot came back off the crossbar and Fylde were able to play out the remainder of the game to take all three points.
Grantham Town: Haystead, Purcicoe, Ridley, Meikle, Hawes, Nwadike, Towey, Keane (Watson, 74), Smith, Graham (Pilliero, 59), King. Subs not used: Stanton, Smith, Turner.