Grantham Town are beaten by Sporting Khalsa in the Northern Premier League

Manager Nathan Arnold admitted his Grantham Town side needed to work on their end product after failing to score for the second successive game on Saturday.

The Gingerbreads went down to a 1-0 home defeat against play-off chasing Sporting Khalsa in the Northern Premier League Midlands Division match.

Although Grantham acquitted themselves well against their high-flying visitors, they rarely looked like scoring in the match at the Meres.

Arnold said: "It was a frustrating game.

"We knew it was going to be a big test against a side fourth in the league but we came off the pitch very disappointed.

"Our goalkeeper had two actions all game and we've again dominated in entries into the box and opportunities that we're getting from set pieces.

"We're lacking that end product and that desire to get on the end of it.

"It's very disappointing that we've come up on the wrong side of a game that we should at least have been drawing because we've done everything but score again."

A goal just before the half-hour mark from Simeon Cobourne settled the contest with Grantham unable to find a way back onto level terms.

It leaves Arnold still looking for his first win as Grantham manager after five matches in charge.

They have picked up two points during his tenure with the three defeats all coming by just a single goal margin.

Arnold added: "The players gave everything again but we just fell short in that final third.

"Our ball retention at the top end of the pitch hasn't been good enough to give us an opportunity to build attacks.

"I said to our centre halves on Saturday that, for every game that we've played, they've had a tough match and have known that they've been in a game and we need to do better in that final third.

"It is a combination of creating more opportunities for the strikers to be in the right place at the right time but sometimes you have to make your own luck and your own chances.

"With hard work, you'd like to think it is going to turn around and come for us."

Grantham are now 11 points adrift of safety and have scored the fewest number of goals in the division.

They have netted just 20 times in 27 league games and haven't won a Midlands Division match since the 2-1 home victory over Coventry Sphinx on October 19.

Arnold said: "There has been huge strides in terms of individual performances and as a collective.

"We look really solid and the two points which we've picked up since I came in could easily have been seven or eight.

"It's down to fine margins but I think that the difference is down to that cutting edge. It's the reality and we have to face that.

"The strikers just need to keep working hard and make their own luck and I'm sure that they will have their break.

"It's almost like we need one to go off a back-side or get a scrappy goal for a 1-0 win to kick-start us.

"We just don't seem to be able to get over the line at the moment and it's an area of the pitch where we need to improve."

Grantham now have two tough matches coming up as they travel to sixth-placed Anstey Nomads on Saturday before a home match with runaway league leaders Quorn the following weekend.

Grantham Town Supporters Club Lottery winners: £200 Ray Tilley, £10 Mrs Philpotts, I De'Ath, E Curtis, no winner roll-over £20 next week.