City extended their unbeaten Doctor Marten’s (League and Cup) run to eight games and will probably be happy to take a point from this hard fought Boxing Day fixture played out in conditions which made it difficult for either side to produce many moments of genuine quality.

The injury sustained by Alan Calton at Dorchester on Saturday saw him make way for Martin Davies, playing his first game since mid-September. With influential centre back Matt Langston falling victim to’ flu Lee Summerscales made his home debut and the continued absence of Craig Pope forced Stuart Niven to deputise as an emergency right back. So the rock solid defence on which City’s recent improvement has relied so heavily was much disrupted. In addition the Milton Road faithful got their first chance to see loanee striker Simon Martin.

Goalscorer Simon Martin controls superbly

Despite the Gingerbreads’ line-up containing several former Lilywhites the visitors made a nervous start. The home side might have capitalised in the opening moments, Rob Miller’s lofted ball into the right hand edge of the penalty area found Rob Nightingale in space but despite bringing the ball down well and turning inside, the City midfielder dragged his shot across the face of goal.

With seven minutes gone and both sides still struggling to settle into any sort of pattern Jamie Godbold fouled Kevin Wilkin wide on the Grantham left. Martin Fox demonstrated that he has lost none of the ability to deliver a quality ball into the danger area by floating in a centre which was held up by the swirling wind, City’s defenders got sucked into the near-post allowing Kevin Wilkin to rise unchallenged and plant a header past his former team mate Martin Davies and into the net off the underside of the bar.

City were clearly unsettled and whilst their make shift defence took time to develop an understanding the pressure was off the visitors who were grateful for the opportunity to get their own game together. With Grantham adopting a long ball approach in an attempt to counter the conditions Lee Pluck found himself under threat from a spiralling centre and could only clear as far as Wilkin. The former City striker was unable to fashion a shooting opportunity however and was forced wide by a recovering Pluck before seeing his cross gathered by a stretching Davies.

With City toiling to find a way through a well disciplined Grantham defence Martin Davies struck a wind assisted clearance which curved wide to the right hand side and over the Gingerbreads back four who were attempting to squeeze the play by playing high up the park. The alert Rob Miller raced onto the through ball cut inside and squared across the box to Danny Bloomfield who slotted gratefully under Mario Ziccardi only to be frustrated by a late flag from the assistant referee. Debate amongst the crowd centred around the fact that Miller had not played the ball forward but the goal was disallowed and that was that.

Stuart Niven and Jamie Godbold have former City man Kevin Wilkin under control

Goal scoring chances were at a premium, when Ziccardi clutched Rob Nightingale’s left sided free kick from under his crossbar there were already more than forty minutes on the clock. At the other end Lee Summerscales was penalised for going into the back of Jamie Kearns some twenty yards from goal in the (visitors’) inside right position. Martin Fox stepped up, this time curling his left foot effort narrowly wide of the post with Martin Davies scampering across his line.

There was still time for a frustrated Rob Miller to pick up a yellow card for dissent before Mr George brought a disappointing half to an end.

With the wind predominantly against them City elected to play the ball on the floor to a greater extent after the interval. Within the opening moments this nearly paid dividends as Louis Riddle combined with Simon Martin to free Danny Bloomfield on the left hand edge of the Grantham area, the Lilywhites top scorer advanced to the bye-line before centreing low across the face of goal, Jamie Godbold was the furthest advanced City player but Martin Fox beat him to the ball and cleared the danger.

Within three minutes City had levelled from a similarly well crafted move. Rob Nightingale won the ball on the City left and laid a pass infield to Rob Miller. Spotting Louis Riddle’s run the former Bedford Town player drilled a low angled pass into the space behind Tim Wooding. Showing good awareness Riddle burst forward, controlling superbly with his first touch he took a couple of strides forward before cutting the ball back to a grateful Simon Martin who converted from six yards out past a stranded Ziccardi.

Already the second period was much better value for money than the first. Within three minutes Grantham came close to regaining the lead. Summerscales attempted a lofted cross field pass to Niven which held up in the wind falling well short of the former Ipswich player. Niall Inman seized on the opportunity racing clear before crossing superbly for Wilkin who rose at the near post to get above Pluck and head powerfully against the bar with Davies beaten.

Martin receives a push in the back from Grantham's Simon Dakin

Tim Wooding then marked his return to Milton Road by collection a caution for throwing the ball away after Simon Dakin had been penalised for going through the back of Martin, soon to be followed by Rob Gould who was late on Danny Bloomfield.

As the game entered its final quarter Jamie Godbold, who had looked lively on the occasions he managed to impose himself on the game played a succession of one-twos, first with Martin and then Bloomfield before arcing a shot narrowly over the angle of post and crossbar. Godbold was involved in City’s next meaningful attack collecting a neat reverse pass from Niven before playing in Riddle whose first time dipping drive fizzed just over the bar.

Roger Ashby introduced Dominic Hallows at the expense of Stuart Wilson. Within a minute of the change the visitors had another half chance to snatch the lead. As ever they remained dangerous from set pieces and on this occasion it was Jason Minett on the Grantham right who drifted a free kick towards the back post where Simon Dakin rose to head narrowly over.

With just under ten minutes remaining Gary Roberts made his first change, Leigh Meadows, a third home debutant, replacing Jamie Godbold. City’s substitute soon found himself on the receiving end of a Martin Fox challenge which earned the former City player a caution.

Grantham had one last chance to snatch victory when City failed to clear a Hallows’ corner and Wilkin snatched at the loose ball firing over the bar. It was to be the veteran striker’s last contribution as he was replaced by Kevin Slinn but there was to be no further meaningful goalmouth action and the points were shared.

Coming into this game on a poor run of form Grantham will probably be happy with an away point. City, disrupted by illness and injury will be pleased that they have extended their unbeaten run. Gary Roberts will hope than some of those missing today will be available for selection when the Llilywhites travel to Nuneaton for a tough looking New Year’s Day fixture.