Grantham Town battle out draw at bitterly cold Meres

Northern Premier League

Premier Division

Grantham Town 1

Marine 1

Grantham Town battled out a tougher than expected encounter with Marine at The Meres on Saturday.

Once again, a strong wind blowing down the pitch gave ball control issues, and the biting gale made for a perishing temperature.

The Gingerbreads looked strong and confident in the opening 20 minutes, but the visitors held their own and it soon became obvious that they would be no walkover.

And the wind was knocked out of Grantham’s sails in the 24th minute when Christian Langos was allowed easy access to find room to slot past Town goalkeeper Dan Haystead.

Grantham had the advantage of the wind in the second half but it seemed hardly apparent.

However, the Gingerbreads eventually levelled in the 70th minute. Liam Kay darted down the right to the goal-line and managed to square a ball back across the face of goal which went in off Marine skipper Joel Bembo-Leta.

The goal reinvigorated Grantham and made for an exciting final 20 minutes.

Both sides had chances to snatch victory in the closing stages. Langos missed out on claiming his second when he fired wide of a virtually open goal, and Town striker Ben Saunders’ 90th minute header skimmed the crossbar.

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