Grantham Town once again threw away a half-time lead when they conceded twice in the second half to gift victory to the visitors.
Evo-Stik Northern Premier League
Premier Division
Grantham Town 2
Hednesford Town 3
The Gingerbreads competed equally with Hednesford, particularly in first half, although the visitors looked quite a threat early on.
Jimmy Lindley was forced to make a great reaction save in the opening minute, from which Rhys Lewis cleared the remaining danger.
Grantham’s first attack came in the seventh minute. Conor Higginson provided a good long ball to Paul Grimes who was able to put a squared ball back to the advancing Higginson, who was eventually muscled off the ball.
The Gingerbreads went in front in the 18th minute. A good build-up involving Damian Magee and Martin Ball ended in Grimes slotting home from Higginson’s saved attempt.
Ball slipped as he let loose a cross-cum-shot but his effort still forced a save from Dan Crane. Ball had another pop from 25 yards which was not far over the target.
Crane had to dive to save Lewis’s 25th minute attempt and needed to smother a shot from Grimes a minute later.
Hednesford pulled a goal back on 35 minutes when Neil Harvey headed in from a free kick. But the Gingerbreads responded immediately. Sam Puricoe curled a beautiful cross which was headed in with aplomb by Lee Potts.
Grantham had a move early in the second half when Jamie McGhee ran upfield from deep in his own half and laid the ball off to Grimes, whose shot was deflected wide.
Chances were shared sparingly as the half wore on before Hednesford struck a second time in the 76th minute from an Elliott Durrell volley.
The visitors’ 82nd minute winner saw Sean O’Connor smartly volley in a Durrell cross.
Grantham Town: Lindley, Purcicoe, Magee (Battersby, 89), Lewis, Meikle, Watt (c), McGhee (Nwadike, 82), Ball, Grimes, Higginson (Demidh, 63), Potts. Subs not used: Robinson, Brindley. Att: 227.