Grantham Town draw with Shepshed Dynamo in Northern Premier League

Grantham played out a second successive draw after sharing the spoils with Shepshed Dynamo on Bank Holiday Monday.

Brad Munns had given the Gingerbreads the advantage in their Northern Premier League Midlands Division match before Shepshed struck twice before the break to lead at half-time.

Rodrigo Goncalves then levelled for Grantham but the winner proved elusive for Louis Bland's side who are still seeking their first league win of the season after five games.

The Gingerbreads' head coach said: "We can't seem to get both sides of our game right.

"The two goals which Shepshed scored were really poor but I felt our attacking looked really bright.

"We created lots of opportunities and scored two really good goals so it is a disappointing day in terms of the result.

"We haven't played badly in any of the five league games but we've just been ok."

Goncalves started his first game since an early season injury but Grantham were without the sidelined Louis Nicholson who had picked up a knock in the goalless draw at Bedworth on Saturday.

Former Shepshed players Mason Lee and Leke Shodunke both lined up for the Gingerbreads against their former club.

Grantham started well with Sidney Pereira seeing a well-struck early effort blocked while Shepshed goalkeeper Alex Akers was called into action to thwart both Goncalves and Pereira.

The Gingerbreads' bright start looked set to be rewarded when Goncalves went down in the area under Micah Edwards' challenge.

However, Akers went the right way to keep out Lee's spot kick with a stunning save to keep the sides on level terms.

But Grantham needed less than 30 seconds to get the better of Akers as, from the resulting corner, Munns glanced home the opening goal.

This sparked a reaction from Shepshed and James Shaw headed just over the crossbar before they equalised in the 34th minute.

Callum Burkey sent over a low centre that Jahvan Davidson-Miller flicked goalwards to beat Grantham custodian Curtis Hall at his near post.

Dynamo then took the lead six minutes later when Chad Timson's looping header from a Kyle Dixon free-kick got the better of Hall to give Shepshed the advantage at the break.

Grantham came out fired up for the second half and Luke Harris hit the crossbar with a shot shortly after the restart.

Lee and Harris both had efforts cleared off the line as Grantham peppered the penalty area with Sam Muggleton's long throws.

The equaliser then arrived in the 56th minute as Goncalves rifled home an excellent strike from outside the area to level the match again.

Davidson-Miller squandered a good chance to put Shepshed back in front as he fired wide with just Hall to beat while David Chapman produced a superb goalline clearance at the other end to deny Shodunke.

It was to prove Chapman's final contribution to the game as he collected a second caution shortly after and Shepshed were reduced to 10 men heading into injury-time.

However, Grantham were unable to take advantage in the final throes and remain third-from-bottom of the league table.

They are in FA Cup action on Saturday when they welcome Newark & Sherwood to the Meres for a first qualifying round tie.