Grantham Town Under 18s beat Long Eaton United in the Notts Youth League

In an impressive turnaround, Grantham Town Under 18s triumphed 5-4 on the road against Long Eaton United after shaking off a sluggish start to their campaign in the Notts Youth League.

After suffering two losses and a draw in their opening matches, Grantham came into this game determined to capitalise on their possession-based play, despite some defensive lapses.

Long Eaton, boasting an unbeaten record, initially looked poised to extend their streak.

The first 20 minutes saw Grantham press effectively, pinning Long Eaton back, though they struggled to convert their dominance into clear chances.

Unfortunately, Grantham's defensive issues resurfaced, leading to two goals against them by half-time.

The team's half-time talk was notably player-led, allowing the young squad to identify and address their mistakes.

A chance in formation also paid off handsomely as Dan scored twice and Jamie added another, with contributions from Jayden and Finley, all within an 18-minute blitz that shifted the momentum firmly in Grantham’s favour.

Despite Long Eaton’s championship pedigree and an unfortunate goal stemming from a mis-clearance, Grantham maintained control, creating further opportunities, including a disallowed goal for handball.

The young referee managed the match commendably, maintaining composure and fairness throughout.

In a thrilling conclusion, Grantham emerged victorious with a final score of 5-4 signaling a promising turnaround in their season.