Grantham Town lose to a late goal against Hinckley Leicester Road in the Northern Premier League

Conceding late goals continues to hit Grantham Town's rapidly-fading hopes of avoiding relegation from the Northern Premier League Midlands Division.

The Gingerbreads shipped a goal in the final stages of the match for the third time in seven days in their 1-0 home loss to Hinckley Leicester Road on Saturday.

Jake Wormleighton headed home the match-winner with just three minutes of the contest remaining at the Meres.

It followed on from Rugby Town's late equaliser the previous Saturday and Coventry Sphinx snatching a last-gasp winner in their midweek match with the Gingerbreads.

Grantham boss Nathan Arnold said: "It's been an unbelievable week with three games in seven days with the same outcome in the last 10 minutes.

"We are where we are for a reason and I've got a lot of compassion for the group and players because I don't think for one second that they have gone into a game wanting to lose a football match as much as some of the decision-making probably suggests otherwise.

"From box to box we're ok and we compete well in games but, at any level, you have to compete in the penalty areas and their lad has headed it in when he was virtually on the goalline and we've given them the three points."

Hinckley had arrived as a mid-table side who were safe from relegation but too far adrift to mount a charge for the play-offs.

And there was little to choose between the two teams in the opening period with neither side seriously testing each other's goalkeeper.

The second half followed a similar pattern until Hinckley hit the winning goal late on to leave Arnold still looking for his first victory as Grantham boss.

He added: "The games on Saturday and Tuesday took a lot out of us mentally.

"We could have potentially gone into the Hinckley game having accumulated four points which would probably have been a fair return for the two performances which we put in.

"Instead, we've got one point and we're going into a game against a side who are a top eight team away from home.

"Their away form is a lot better but I thought neither side really did too much in the first half and neither team really deserved to win the game.

"I don't think they did enough to win the game but we're talking about another defeat in a tight match which we should have at least drawn.

"It's a recurring pattern for us. It isn't anything new and it's where we are."

Grantham are now 13 points adrift of safety with six matches of the season remaining. They travel to 10th-placed Sutton Coldfield on Saturday.