Wasn’t sure if I would make any pre-seasons, but fate threw its hand and allowed me the opportunity of getting along to this one. This was our fourth pre-season game, my first. To be honest, I didn’t have the same tingle or excitement going into this game as I’d had in previous seasons. Maybe it’s been the poxy summer, maybe it only feels like a couple of weeks since we were at the KC playing North Ferriby.
Most of our squad were the same as last term, with a couple of exceptions (chib being one of them, Tom Nicholson appears to be another), but we have some new players, who appear to have slotted in quite well. Our management duo has changed a little, Tim Hotte stepping down, Gary in full control with Phil Harrison as his deputy.
Our visitors ply their trade in the Unibond South (where we were 2 seasons ago) so were of a good standard and would give us a real test. What looked to be a miserable afternoon, that looked to promise plenty of rain, turned into a warm sunny one. The pitch looked excellent, and its amazing what a lick of paint can do to the huts and cabins in the cafe quarter.
They kicked off in their Plymouth Argyle kit, we were still wearing last years (which was the kit from the year previous to that !). boom it didn’t take Palms long before he notched not only his first of the day (9mins) but to get his first hat trick of the season (23 minutes), it was cruise control. They notched one in before the break, however I missed it, the sheer excitement of an opposition attack was completely missed by the 111 spectators. Half time and the tradition of missing out on the raffle continues, as it had for PaulNFFC (who we reckon between us haven’t won our raffle for a combined 7 years !!).
Grantham have decided to up the ante for the second half, either that or they had a bollocking at half time, and wholesale changes for both teams. The visitors play well, but for some reason only had 10 men on the pitch for some of the second half – someone complementing the ref on his parentage no doubt. They did score a second after some pressure, but we finished the afternoon as we started, Jack Wilkinson, one of two local lads in the team, made a break, slapped a nice shot goalbound but hit the foot of the post, Alex Rhodes was following up on the other side of the penalty area and finished with a great strike into the far corner. Brilliant !
All in all, everyone should be satisfied with their efforts and everyone in the crowd were well entertained to a good game. Good to see a load of familiar faces and to have a chat. Gails chilli was excellent. Sculcoates at home next Sat, with a game against a strong Hull XI the Wednesday after.
Granthams website is here http://www.granthamtownfc.com/ and this is their report of the game :
Bridlington Town 4-2 Grantham Town.
Team: Steve Norris, Ricky Hanson, Danny Brooks, Ryan Clarke, Adam Jones (Sam Saunders), Danny Steadman (Michael Stahlberger), Danny Hargreaves, Robert Hughes, Dan Reidy (Ben Saunders), Gio Carchedi (Lee Potts), Sam Kirton (Dan French).
Three goals in the opening twenty minutes rocked Grantham as Bridlington opened up a lead the Gingerbreads just could not claw back. Although a better second half performance saw Grantham go close to levelling the game, a late fourth capped things off for the home side.
Woeful defending contributed to all three of the home sides opening salvo. After 9 minutes, Danny Brooks failed to deal with a high ball and it fell to Palmer. He made no mistake, shooting past Steve Norris.
Sam Kirton had a shot turned round the post by Wilberforce before a floated free kick found the Grantham defence wanting again on 18 minutes. Brooks and Adam Jones stood watching as Palmer ran between them to steer home his second of the game.
He got his hat trick four minutes later. Brooks lost the ball in midfield and Palmer again lost his markers to score.
Seven minutes before half time, Jones got Grantham back in the game, but it took half time substitutions for the Gingerbreads to really wake up. Dan French and Ben Saunders gave Grantham better options in the second half. Danny Steadman pulled the strings in the centre of the park as the Gingerbreads warmed to their task.
Before Grantham truly got going, they were grateful to Norris as he twice kept out Wilkinson. Gio Carchedi and Robert Hughes both has efforts saved by Bramley as Grantham had more of the play.
Dan French delivered a cross that was inched too long for Hughes before Ben Saunders scored Grantham’s second thirteen minutes from the end. Saunders started the move with a deft header for French. He then finished calmly after both his effort and Lee Potts were blocked.
Five minutes from time, Bridlington put the result beyond doubt. A quick break left Grantham floundering. Harrisons shot hit the post, but fell to Rhodes. He hit a rising drive past Norris.
“We played like 11 individuals at times today.” Said Grantham joint manager Wayne Hallcro. “The same things happened again as happened at Radcliffe. We seemed to nice defensively. We had been asked by the players to keep quiet from the bench today so they could do the talking. I think everybody saw the result.”
Richard Cresswell scored for Stoke in their 2-1 defeat at Preston. In comparison to Brid, Stoke have lost 4 and drawn 1 in their pre-season.
