Defeat for Nathan Arnold in his first home match as Grantham Town manager

Grantham Town's winless run stretched to 12 of the 24 Northern Premier League games played so far this season after a home defeat to Loughborough Students on Saturday.

Patience and persistence paid off for the visitors at the Meres as they scored a late winner to send the Gingerbreads to defeat in Nathan Arnold's first home game as Grantham manager.

Despite the defeat which leaves them 12 points adrift of safety in the Midlands Division, Arnold felt that there were positives he could take from the game.

He said: "We made a good account of ourselves, especially for the first 55 to 60 minutes.

"We stuck to the game-plan, we dominated the statistics and took a valuable lead into half-time.

"It was a credit to our first half that they had to change the way they played for the second half. We were resolute for large parts and we kept consistency in our game.

"I thought the two goals were avoidable, but fair play to them for keeping at it. They are fine margins but lots of positives and encouragement going forward."

Grantham handed debuts to Tom Senior and Feyi Afuape who have joined on work experience from League One side Barnsley.

The Gingerbreads were happy to let Loughborough pass the ball around inside their own half and closed them down to deny any early chances for the visitors.

Brad Munns and Freddie Allen worked a position for Max Cook to cross and only a deflection took his delivery straight to Luke Skinner in the Loughborough goal.

With Grantham keeping their shape, Loughborough posed little threat throughout the first half, while the Gingerbreads got into good positions but could not find the right final touch.

Jevin Seaton was inches away from an Allen through ball, then delivered a cross that was cleared to Cook. The return header had little power and was comfortable for Skinner.

Grantham’s pressure led to the opening goal on 29 minutes.

Allen had seen Skinner make a good save when he gathered a loose ball and let fly.

When Harry Olivant put a high ball into the Loughborough six-yard box, Skinner and his defence got into a tangle and presented the ball to Allen six yards out. The Gingerbreads midfielder made no mistake to open the scoring.

Ten minutes before the break, the Students fashioned their first clear chance of the game.

Alexander Spiteri delivered a good cross for Joshua Strouts. From six yards out, Strouts put his header over the Grantham crossbar.

Shortly after half-time, the scores were level when Loughborough poked home a scrappy goal.

A cross from the Grantham left caused chaos inside the Gingerbread six-yard box. Curtis Hall saved the initial effort from Gio Lemonakis, but Halim Bangura reacted quickest to poke home the equaliser.

Skinner kept the scores level with two good saves in two minutes as Grantham immediately looked to restore their lead.

Munns sent Afuape clear of the visitors’ defence, but Skinner denied the striker a debut goal. Cook then hit a shot from 18 yards out that Skinner saved low to his left.

Loughborough began to exert control in the centre of the field and increased pressure on the Grantham back line.

Strouts missed another good chance when he hooked an effort over the crossbar from close range after Jonty Bouch headed a deep cross into the danger zone. Lemonakis then lifted a shot too high as Grantham lost their defensive shape.

The Gingerbreads started to sit deeper to nullify the threat from the visitors and kept them at arm's length for a long while.

However, with five minutes left, Loughborough worked a chance from the Grantham right.

Three passes set up Sam Fielding 22 yards out and he had time to set himself and drove in a shot that Hall only parried straight back out. Quinton Dlodlo was the only player following in and put the ball into an almost unguarded net.

Grantham found a spark of life in their game and pressed Loughborough back for the remaining five minutes and added time.

The Students stayed firm in their defence and, apart from a shot from Allen that was straight at Skinner, their goal wasn’t threatened.

Grantham travel to Coleshill Town on Saturday.