Grantham Town beat Brighouse in the Northern Premier League East Division
Grantham Town tasted victory for the first time in more than three months when they recorded a deserved win over Brighouse on Saturday.
At both ends of the pitch, Louis Bland's side did everything he wanted them to as the Gingerbreads hauled themselves off the foot of the Northern Premier League East Division table.
All three strikes came from Gingerbreads academy products which, combined with a good debut from new signing Ryan Rushen, saw a result and scoreline that made Bland proud of his charges, writes Graham Cowell
The Grantham head coach said: "I thought we were the better side throughout the game.
"We created more opportunities and defended better.
"Everything I said we needed to do better after the Belper game, we did. We were more clinical and that's why we won the game."
Grantham put in the effort needed from the first minute and restricted the visitors’ chances.
An early run and low cross from Brighouse’s Mohammad Qasim was well defended by Osa Solomon to beat Cameron Bedford to the ball.
The Gingerbreads showed their intent at the other end of the field after 10 minutes.
Rushen won the ball when a free-kick was delivered into the penalty area, but his header down was just out of the reach of Rodrigo Goncalves.
Sam Muggleton’s throws caused a threat in the Brighouse penalty area. When Brad Munns challenged visiting goalkeeper Jamie Hassall for one after 13 minutes, the Brighouse defence were relieved to clear the loose ball.
The same route to goal led to the first spot kick of the afternoon midway through the half.
Muggleton’s throw was not cleared by the visitors and. as it bounced around in the penalty area, Rushen was fouled with referee Mr Wright pointing straight to the spot. Munns stepped up and confidently put the ball in the corner of the net.
A short corner routine almost led to a second goal three minutes later.
Curtis Morrison crossed the ball and Rushen won it again. Goncalves brought the loose ball under control and set up Matthew Doyle but he shot wide of the mark.
Brighouse struggled to mount a threatening attack as the Gingerbreads defended their penalty area well.
The best chance for the visitors came just after the half-hour mark with a good ball to Jack Normanton but poor control let him down and the chance was lost.
A second goal before the break for Grantham was deserved as Goncalves and Rushen exchanged passes on the edge of the Brighouse penalty area in the 34th minute.
Goncalves continued to move the ball along the edge of the box and, despite the attentions of two defenders, hit a low strike past Hassall into the back of the net.
Morrison should have made it three goals just before half-time.
A great through ball sent him clear of the Brighouse defence and he took it around Hassall but, with the goal gaping, a good covering challenge took the ball away from him as he was about to shoot.
The second half saw more attacking intent from Brighouse, but solid defending by the Gingerbreads limited chances for the visitors with Curtis Hall largely a spectator in the Grantham goal.
Grantham had a goal threat about them all afternoon.
Five minutes after the break, Rushen was causing problems for the Brighouse defence again. Munns played him in, but Rushen was forced wide 30 yards out. He tried a lob over Hassall but was two yards too high with his effort.
Brighouse were denied by the Grantham defence with Kieron Ceesay three times trying to get a shot away, but each time the Gingerbreads back line blocked his shot.
Just before the hour, Ceesay got on the end of a cross from Brendon Webster but headed over the Grantham crossbar.
Kris Zaluzinskis tried a similar effort to the one from Rushen after 62 minutes as Grantham defended deeper and relied on breaks to threaten the visitors goal. Similar to Rushen, Zaluzinskis was just too high with Hassall struggling to recover.
Pressure on the Grantham defence grew as the half progressed.
Jack Cook had a series of chances, but fired wide with his first try, was off target again a couple of minutes later, then, when he ran at the Grantham defence with 70 minutes gone, could not beat Solomon.
The Gingerbreads bench’s hearts were in their mouths seven minutes from time.
For once Grantham allowed the ball to run across their 18-yard line. Joshua Grant played in Webster who hit a shot that was turned over the crossbar by Hall from the foot of his right-hand post.
Two minutes later, Grantham put the game to bed. Muggleton was tripped in the Brighouse penalty area and, again, Mr Wright pointed to the spot and Munns fired home the penalty.
AS the game went into injury time, Grantham looked dangerous again.
Tiago Nassunculo and Rushen broke two-against-one on the Brighouse defence but the former was held up by the lone defender before being beaten by Hassall.
Hall made a series of good saves deep in injury time as Grantham sought a clean sheet.
Sebastian Bolton and Joshua Dacre were both frustrated by the Grantham shot stopper.
His opposite number Hassall was in action again as the game ended in a flurry of chances.
Nassunculo struck from six yards out, but Hassall pulled off a good strike to deny him.
The last action of the game saw a consolation goal for the visitors.
A push from Muggleton in the penalty area was spotted by Mr Wright who pointed to the spot for the third time in the afternoon.
Normanton made no mistake, but it was too late to affect the outcome of the game as Grantham netted their first league win since the victory at Grimsby Borough on September 16.
