TONY Sullivan said beforehand this was Witton Albion’s most important match of the season so far, and that they had to avoid another defeat.

After encouraging performances against the table’s top two teams last weekend, he had cause for optimism.

But if his side had turned a corner, they’ve soon stalled again.

In truth, they never got going against in-form Grantham.

Not even Michael Koral’s goal before the break, which cancelled out Alex Simmons’ opener for the visitors, could kick-start Witton.

After the interval they were insipid, incapable of a reaction.

A sequence of defeats in the Premier Division was prolonged to 10 as a result.

Some failings were familiar; Grantham scored twice from set pieces in the second half, Albion’s notorious Achilles heel.

Yet there is a similar crisis at the other end of the field, for Witton have scored just four times in their past eight league games.

Two of those were contributed by players no longer at the club.

Sullivan did not hide his frustration afterwards.

“This was a six-pointer, and we didn’t perform,” he said.

“There’s a mental block; we’re not losing games because of a lack of ability. It’s a question of desire.

“The pressure is mounting now and if we don’t change things quickly, then we’ll be in serious trouble.”

Defeat at Halesowen Town on Tuesday could send Witton to the bottom of the table.

Simmons struck first after 18 minutes, winning a foot race with skipper Sam Barnes to reach a pass that had bisected Albion’s backline.

He swerved past goalkeeper Daniel East before rolling into an empty net.

What followed was scrappy, both sides slipping into a stupor.

The hosts awoke in the nick of time, Koral steering in his first league goal for the club after Danny Andrews had nudged Jamie Rainford’s clever free kick into his path.

When Alex Titchiner’s cross-cum-shot clipped the crossbar shortly afterwards, Albion had spluttered into life.

It did not last, and Jordan Hempenstall’s thumping header flashed past an upright early in the second period.

John Shaw’s clumsy foul on 67 minutes gifted to Grantham a free kick, curved in by Simmons, that Michael Towey diverted deftly into the corner.

The same combination, this time from a corner, would have produced a third goal had East not saved smartly.

And when substitute Connor Johnson’s drive hit a post, Witton were on the brink.

But they were not pushed over the edge straight away.

Andrews’ combination with Rainford on the right deserved better than for defender Sam Purcicoe to cut out the latter’s low cross with Titchiner and substitute Scott Bakkor both better-placed.

Instead Tom Batchelor jabbed in Simmons’ next corner in stoppage time to extend the Gingerbreads’ winning run to three matches.

“We’re too easy to beat,” rued Sullivan.

Corner turned or not, Witton are still heading in the wrong direction.

Witton (4-4-2) East (GK), Moyo (Dawson 68), Harrison, Barnes, Shaw, Gardner (Corbett 79), O’Brien, Andrews, Koral (Bakkor 63), Titchiner, Rainford Subs not used Speare (GK), Read Goal Koral 42 Booked Bakkor (foul)

Grantham (4-4-2) Haystead (GK), Purcicoe, Batchelor, Watt, Meikle, Dickens (Lewis 74), Meadows, Towey, Fairclough (Johnson 56), Simmons, Hempenstall Subs not used Turner (GK), Grimes, McGovern Goals Simmons 18, Towey 67, Batchelor 90 Booked Lewis (foul)

Referee James Mainwaring

Attendance 405