Alan Buckley will be disappointed with the performance from his side after they were comfortably beaten by Accrington Stanley at the Fraser Eagle Stadium this afternoon.
Trailing 1-0 at the break, Town went further behind at the start of the second half before Paul Bolland got them back into it. However, Stanley added a third as the Mariners pushed forward and their misery was compounded with a further goal in injury time.
After their superb midweek win over Huddersfield Town in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy first round, the manager decided to revert back to the 4-5-1 formation with Mulligan keeping Bennett on the bench following the youngster's return from suspension. Whittle, Fenton and Newey completed the back four, with Barnes in goal.
Paul Bolland was drafted back into midfield alongside Hunt and Boshell, with Till and Toner on the wings. Rankin was the lone striker up front. Montgomery, Bore, Taylor and Jones joined Bennett on the bench.
The Mariners kicked off shooting towards the home end and enjoyed plenty of possession but failed to create any chances. Stanley's Andy Proctor required treatment for a head injury after a clash with Boshell.
The first chance of the game came after 12 minutes when Paul Mullin knocked the ball down for Rosco D'Sane, but the striker shot wide. A few minutes later the home side won a free kick 20 yards out to the right of the 'D'. Skipper Peter Cavanagh's precise shot was parried away by Barnes, diving to his right.
On 20 minutes D'Sane got away down the right and pulled the ball back for Mullin, but the big striker's effort missed the target.
With Town looking largely ineffective Alan Buckley changed his side to a 4-4-2 formation by taking off Boshell and replacing him with Taylor on 22 minutes.
Town's only real effort on goal in the first half came from Bolland, whose volley dipped just a little too late and flew over the bar with the keeper struggling.
On 28 minutes referee Jon Moss awarded Accrington a penalty for what appeared to be a shirt tug at the far post by Newey, although other reports suggest it was a foul by Hunt. Andy Proctor stepped forward and sent Barnes the wrong way to break the deadlock.
Minutes after the goal Town looked to be in trouble again as Brown was put through. Barnes made a good low save but the midfielder was adjudged to have been offside.
D'Sane was next to get a shot away but his effort flew comfortably wide after he picked up on a loose ball.
The Mariners managed to work their way down the right through the good work of Taylor, and his clever pass found Mulligan in space who crossed into the danger area but Rankin only managed to glance his header and the ball skidded wide for a goal kick.
Buckley would have had some stern words to say at his team at half time as they looked lacklustre and struggled in possession. The defence also looked to be under the cosh with the physical presence of Mullin and the direct play of D'Sane pulling players out of position.
Gary Jones was brought on to replace Rankin in a straight swap for the start of the second half. And the Mariners began the brightest with good spells of possession. Bolland was put through but the ball wouldn't come down and Cavanagh chased back to block the shot away and out for a corner.
Just when the visitors looked to have got a foothold in the game they conceded at the other end. Accrington attacked through the middle and a cross from the by-line on the left found Mullin unmarked in the middle and the big striker nodded home from close range to make it 2-0.
On 54 minutes Buckley made his final substitution, replacing Till with Bore. The young winger almost made an immediate impact when his run down the left channel took him into the box, but the keeper knocked the ball back against Bore and it rolled out for a goal kick.
Again it was down the left channel that Town ultimately profited. Neat interchanges between Toner, Jones and Taylor released Newey, and his cut-back from the line found the on-rushing Bolland who beat his marker to the ball and headed into the top corner to make it 2-1 after 57 minutes.
For the next ten minutes the Mariners looked the better side as they searched for an equaliser. Taylor saw a shot well saved and Bolland lifted a wide ball onto the top of the bar following good work by Bore down the left. Even Jones tried his luck 30 yards out, but his dipping volley flew well over.
On 64 minutes Taylor was put through into the box, and although the young striker was angling wide he appeared to receive a shove in the back from Robbie Williams but the referee allowed play to go on.
Town always looked vulnerable when the home side broke forward, and after one warning shot went unheeded from D'Sane the Mariners were punished a couple of minutes later when poor marking from a corner allowed Harris to advance into the area. His shot was blocked and the loose ball was pounced on by Mullin, who scooped home his second and Accrington's third goal of the match.
After that the game seemed to slip from Town and Newey was booked on 84 minutes after he pulled down Harris as the home side spread the play. Indeed it was Harris who nearly profited from some more slack marking as Stanley's corner was allowed to roll all the way to the edge of the area, but his shot just missed the angle of post and bar.
As the game entered the five minutes of injury time Stanley added a fourth when Proctor was on hand to head home Leam Richardson's excellent right wing cross.
In the last few minutes Town could have grabbed a second but Taylor saw his shot flash wide, Whittle didn't react quick enough to a corner that fell to him six yards out, and Bore shot wide from the edge of the area.
Full time: Accrington 4-1 Town
