Grantham prepare for Premier Division

Grantham make their last away trip of their Championship season with a trip to Loughborough. Joint manager Wayne Hallcro is aware that the level of performance that Grantham put in at Stamford dropped from the high standards the Gingerbreads have set this season, but wasn’t surprised.

“We weren’t going to get the same level of intensity on Monday as we have had through the rest of the season.” Hallcro said. “The players have all done fantastically well for us and the club this season. We were quietly confident that we would win on Monday. It gave us the chance to relax and we have not really been able to do that for the last two seasons. It was a typical end of season game, but we were too strong for Stamford. The goals we got were at the right time to keep the game under control. It can’t have been an easy day for Stamford either.”

Unusually, the Gingerbreads have prepared by having a week off from training, but Hallcro expects that to have its advantage. With two games over the last weekend and emotions high, he and fellow joint manager Jimmy Albans were of the view that a rest was as good as anything else to get everyone ready to face Loughborough.

“We have given everyone Thursday night off.” Hallcro explained. “They deserve it after two games at the weekend. It means we will go to Loughborough fresh.”

The starting line-up against Stamford featured a number of players who have not seen much football in recent weeks and also saw over half an hour from Chris Glarvey at the back. Hallcro was quick to praise the performances of everyone who helped beat Stamford so comfortably.

“Chris Glarvey dropped in at the back on Saturday seamlessly.” Hallcro said. “He didn’t put a foot wrong. It shows that we have got lads on the bench who are chomping at the bit to get on the pitch and when they do, they can do a job just as well as the player they have replaced. The players who came in on Monday all gave 100%. No-one in the starting eleven can take it easy as they know what the quality is waiting to take their shirt sat on the bench.”

A couple of players came out of the Stamford game carrying knocks. Michael Jacklin and Rob Murray are expected to be fit to at least play some part in the game at Loughborough, but Hallcro does not want ot see his side let up as the season draws to a close. With the final game against Ilkeston only a week on Saturday, Hallcro had words of warning for his squad as they face Loughborough.

“Jaffa got a deadleg on Monday,” the Gingerbreads joint boss said. “But the rest since gives him a chance to be fit. Rob has got a shoulder injury that affected his kicking on Monday, but we expect him to be 100%. Everyone has to do the right things to get into the side. We won’t let anyone take it easy at all. We expect the same levels of motivation against Loughborough as we have seen so far this season. Everyone wants to play in the Ilkeston game, but they will have to earn the right to do so. We have 17 lads, all of them could start. No-one is guaranteed a place in that 11 either against Loughborough or against Ilkeston.”

The pitch at the Nanpantan Sports Ground is always conducive to good football and Hallcro expects the home side to try to knock the ball around a bit. A number of sides have tried to do that against Grantham this season, and Hallcro knows that his side must apply themselves in the same way as they have done all season if they are to get a result.

“We expect nothing different from Loughborough to how they have played other games this season.” Hallcro confirmed. “They like to play the ball around and play it from the back. We’ll have to upset that. We have closed sides down well all season and we expect the same again on Saturday. We need to keep our concentration levels and intensity levels going through to the end of the season.”

Although this season is nearly over, it does not mean that Hallcro and Albans can take a rest. In fact, if anything, it is the opposite as it gives the duo the chance to get started on next season early. Unlike last season when things went through to the beginning of May before Grantham knew what their league destiny was, this season preparations for Premier Division life can start before Division 1 is over.

“We are already starting to set things out for next year.” Hallcro explained. “We want to get things sorted with this squad as soon as possible. Other teams will want our players; we have got to stop that happening. We have got where we are with stability, we need that going forward.”