Grantham Town are beaten by Hebburn in the Northern Premier League
A resilient Grantham defensive performance was undone with one opportunity late in the game that Hebburn capitalised on as Louis Bland saw his side execute their game plan but be undone by one chance late in the game.
Joe Walton struck with just seven minutes remaining as second-placed Hebburn took the points in Bland's first match as the Gingerbreads' new head coach.
"We put on a really good performance today," said Bland.
"We had a big chance for Harry Olivant, they probably had two. The difference was that they took theirs.
"We had a plan and we stuck to it for 99 per cent of the time. The one time they got a break they took the chance and that was the difference between the two sides."
With two changes to the side from last week's draw with Cleethorpes, Grantham set up with a 3-5-2 to frustrate their promotion-chasing opponents and largely did that as chances throughout the game were few and far between, writes Graham Cowell.
Hebburn moved the ball around well but were not able to break down a resilient Grantham defence.
The home side forced a corner after eight minutes that was cleared to the edge of the Grantham penalty area. Walton hit a first time shot, but Curtis Hall gathered his shot comfortably.
Grantham gave up possession around the halfway line, but Hebburn failed to break down a well organised visiting defence that soaked up the pressure well.
Both sides could have taken the lead around the midway point of the first half. After 24 minutes, Liam Murray and Olly Martin exchanged passes to give Murray a shooting chance, but his effort was at Curtis Hall.
Two minutes later Grantham had their best chance of the game. Tye Simpson got the ball through for Harry Olivant. The Gingerbreads striker only had Hebburn goalkeeper Shaun Newbrook to beat but dragged his shot wide.
Hebburn forced a number of late corners in the first half but, despite unmarked headers from Matthew Elsdon and Robbie Spence, could not stretch Hall in the Grantham goal.
Martin had a shot deflected over the crossbar for another corner as the home side looked for a half-time lead. Despite the pressure from the home side, Grantham went into the break deservedly level.
It was the same story after the break. Grantham continued to frustrate their hosts.
Hebburn won early corners but created nothing from them. After 52 minutes Tom Devine delivered a cross for Amar Purewal, but the Hebburn striker headed at Hall.
The home side began to exert more pressure as they dominated possession without breaking down a resolute Grantham defence.
Substitute Dean Briggs ran at the Grantham defence and his cross came to Purewal, but he could not finish the move.
A free kick on 72 minutes gave Liam Murray a chance to open the scoring, but his dead ball flew over the top of the Grantham crossbar. A minute later Walton shot across the goal but wide of the target.
The Gingerbreads resilience was broken seven minutes from time. A loose ball broke kindly for Hebburn, putting Walton in with just Hall to beat. The home side’s winger beat Hall into the far corner of the net.
Grantham responded strongly, but in turn could not break down a solid Hebburn back line.
George Herbert went on a late run at the Hebburn defence and put a good ball in for Olivant, but his volley was blocked as the Gingerbreads looked in vain for an equaliser.
The defeat sends Grantham back to the bottom of the table after Grimsby Borough took a point at Belper on Saturday.
The Gingerbreads host Carlton Town at the South Kesteven Stadium on Boxing Day (3pm).