Stockton Town were victors in a fantastic performance against Grantham Town.
Michael Dunwell made only switch to the starting lineup following last weekend’s victory over Carlton Town with Dale Mulligan coming in at centre back for the unavailable Tom Coulthard.
Stockton started the game very brightly and thought they had a lead within two minutes when Glen Butterworth’s curling effort from the edge of the area struck the post.
The Anchors fans were cheering the ball hitting the net after 10 minutes when Stephen Thompson found the target, but his goal was pulled back for an earlier foul.
Mikey Roberts had a great start to the game, and nearly provided the opener when his strike from a tight angle collided with the wrong side of woodwork.
But after 15 minutes it was that man Mikey Roberts who perfectly controlled a great pass from Glen Butterworth and converted wonderfully past Curtis Hall.
Only a minute after the restart, a long ball unleashed Michael Fowler, who managed to bully the Grantham defender away from the ball, but his lofted effort bounced off the under side of the crossbar which somehow avoided crossing the goal line.
In added time in the first half, the woodwork was the hero for Grantham once again. A failed clearance following a corner led to Adam Nicholson being open at the back stick and his right-footed shot bounced back off the post.
Half-time: Stockton Town 1-0 Grantham Town
Grantham had their first chance of the encounter with Ali Elkossi firing well wide of Nathan Harker’s goal 10 minutes after the interval.
In the 67th minute, Dan McWilliams placed a right-footed cross into the danger area which Michael Fowler was mere inches away from guiding towards the target.
But Fowler made no mistake only two minutes later when he was played through on goal by Glen Butterworth and slotted home nicely past Curtis Hall to double the Anchors’ advantage.
Grantham had their closest chance of the game in the 76th minute when substitute Rodrigo Goncalves cut inside from the left-wing and powered a finessed attempt inches over the crossbar.
As Grantham pushed to get back in the game, it provided Kevin Hayes space on the right to dart towards goal. In added time he forced a wonderful save out of Curtis Hall from inside the area.
Hayes again had a brilliant chance to put the cherry on top deeper into added time when he cut inside and had another strike saved by the Gingerbreads number one. Cameron Painter had two rebounded efforts which miraculously stayed out of the visitor’s net.
Full-time: Stockton Town 2-0 Grantham Town
Another three points for Stockton sees them remain 11 points clear atop of the standings ahead of next Saturday’s trip to Cleethorpes Town.
Stockton Town: Harker, King, D. Mulligan (Baggs 73’), Nicholson, McWilliams, Butterworth (Painter 71’), Portas, Hayes, Thompson, Roberts, Fowler (Sweet 78’)
Unused Subs: Beddow, N. Mulligan.
Grantham Town: Hall, Tuntulwana, Nicholson (Nguedon 78’), Doyle, Muggleton, Elkossi (Munns 58’), Walker, Hooper, Rushen, Wood (Goncalves 65’), Morrison
Unused Subs: Gadomski, Olivant
Goals: 1-0, 15 min, Roberts; 2-0, 69 min, Michael Fowler.
Attendance: 581