Saturday 8 March 2003 - South Kesteven Stadium - kick off 3.00pm Dr Martens Premier Division

Following his winning strike against Hastings United four days earlier Drew Shore earned a starting place at the expense of rested midfielder Jamie Gosling. With the elements behind them in the first half City understandably dominated possession but such was the strength of the wind any advantage was negligible. A ninth minute corner swung in by Shore was cleared as far as Stuart James. He mis-hit his attempted shot towards Paul Milsom. Milsom didn't do any better, sending his shot high over the bar. Time and time again passes forward were carried beyond their intented target and even when City got the ball down the pitch left the likes of Andy Williams and Frankie Bennett struggling to produce the skills they're capable of. On a rare occasion that Williams did find the time and space to provide a decent cross, Wilkins was in the right place to deny Bennett a shooting chance. Understandably Grantham were content to defend in depth and rarely pushed forward in sufficient numbers to worry City. Only a couple of swirling crosses that Bryant failed to gather ever threatened a goal for the home side. With just four minutes remaining in the half City finally created a clear opening. Jim Rollo found himself unmarked 10 yards out after good work by Williams. His shot was well-struck but Ziccardi managed to get a hand to it and Wilkins completed the clearance just before Jason Eaton could apply a finishing touch.

Having reached the interval on level terms Grantham must have thought they had done the hard work but almost immediately found why City had failed to make the best of the conditions. Twice in the opening minutes of the half McDaid failed to keep long range efforts down and cleared Bryant's bar by several yards. In fact the home side looked even less likely to break the deadlock than City had and they almost fell behind on 53 minutes. Minnett having to head Gary Kemp's flicked header from James's corner off his own line. Three substitutions for the home side failed to break the pattern of play and City's travelling band of 50 or so fans were content to entertain themselves with almost non-stop vocal support that was in direct contrast to the fare served up by the two teams. Just after the hour mark Bryant did very well to claim a cross that the wind almost carried over his head and 15 minutes later Kemp's timely headed interception prevented Hawley getting a clear sight of goal. In a neat piece of symmetry it took Grantham until four minutes from time to carve out their best chance. McDaid tried his luck again from long range and despite finally getting the shot on target it was directed straight at Bryant. A couple of late corners and free-kicks gave City a few nervous moments after this but by then both sides looked desperate just to get off the pitch and out of the wind, leaving the conditions as the only winner.