GRANTHAM RANGERS

Grantham Rangers Football Club 1 v 0 Kimberley Town Football Club

Having had a weekend off last week Grantham Rangers were eager to put on a performance. The line up included 5 changes from the previous match. Grantham Rangers started the game in a bright and enterprising way. Soon the first chance fell to Greg Smith whose header was just off target. Kimberley to their credit came to play and were soon testing the Rangers defence but fine work from Jim Neil, Eddie Bishop, Darryl Chappell, Nick Kerby & Tom Vorley dealt with the Kimberley attack comfortably. Rangers tested the visiting keeper again on 25 mins when Kerby got down the right and put in a fine cross for Carluchi whose effort was easily saved. Rangers were playing some fine football and new signing Billy Warner was ever more influential in midfield along with Capt Jack Whyley. Then on 43 mins Warner and Whyley put in Kerby whose pinpoint cross to Grag Smith was superbly Headed in to the far corner leaving the keeper with no chance. Half Time 1- 0

The second half was a mirror image of the first and it was Rangers who took the game to Kimberley. However on 55 mins Rangers suffered a blow when Jim Neil was sent off for a second bookable offence. Rangers re-shuffled their defence and still looked comfortable even though they were a man down. The Rangers Keeper Andy Nicholson was the busier keeper but dealt with everything with superb confidence marshalling his defence well. On 72 mins sub Bob Walker had an effort on goal but was well wide. Then Tom Vorley was played in superbly by Warner who tried to pick his shot but slipped the wrong side of the post. Grantham Rangers were showing a resilience and kept their shape and discipline and saw out the half with some fine defending. FULL TIME 1 - 0.

Manager Barry Baker commented: it was a hard game playing in a howling wind and driving rain, but we coped with it better then they did and we wanted it more than they did. New Signing Billy Warner offered us some strength in the centre, Eddie Bishop and Nick Kerby were again outstanding, the pair are only 16 but looked very comfortable in the defence and i cant remember Eddie Bishop missing one header or tackle all game, which is very encouraging. But the whole team dug deep and really started to play for each other. We need to build on this now and keep improving.