Match report by David Elliott at Blundell Park
BRAVE Grimsby Town bowed out of the Carling Cup after losing on penalties to Championship Burnley.
The Mariners can be proud of their performance though after dominating the game for long periods and taking their opponents the full distance.
After a goalless 90 minutes, Town took the lead with seven minutes of extra time gone when substitute Danny North slotted home from 12 yards.
But Burnley hit back through Andy Gray with thirteen minutes to go.
Alan Buckley stuck with the same team that drew with Notts County on Saturday.That meant using the 4-5-1 formation again, with Isaiah Rankin again asked to play up front on his own.
Ryan Bennett, the goalscorer from Saturday, continued at right back, with Justin Whittle, Nick Fenton and Tom Newey making up the back four in front of Phil Barnes.
The five man midfield was made up of Peter Till on the right, Ciaran Toner on the left and Danny Boshell, Paul Bolland and James Hunt across the centre of the park.
Again, there was to be plenty of attacking options on the bench with Gary Jones, Danny North and Peter Bore all named as substitutes alongside Jamie Clarke and Gary Montgomery.
By contrast, Burnley boss Steve Cotterill rang the changes, with just two of the starters from their 2-1 weekend victory over West Brom in the XI again tonight.Michael Duff and summer signing Stephen Jordan were the only ones to keep their places as Cotterill looked to rotate his squad.
Ex-Premiership star David Unsworth made his debut for the Clarets despite only signing a one year deal at Turf Moor yesterday, while Albanian international Besart Berisha was named on the bench.
Brian Jensen started in goal, behind a back four of Duff, Stephen Foster, Unsworth and Stephen Jordan.Steve Jones, John Spicer, James O'Connor and Alan Mahon made up the midfield, while Kyle Lafferty was named alongside Ade Akinbiyi in attack.
The game was sure to be a tough test for the Mariners against an outfit two divisions higher and who had enjoyed a win at the weekend against one of the fancied teams for promotion to the Premiership in West Brom.But Town will have seen this match as a chance to test themselves against quality opposition on a competitive platform, as well, of course, as an opportunity to progress to round two of a cup competition.
Town kicked off in drizzly conditions attacking the Osmond Stand and earned their first corner after two minutes when Bolland's 20 yard shot was deflected.Justin Whittle's header from Toner's kick dropped wide of Jensen's far post.
Burnley had their first chance with a free kick on the right after 13 minutes.Alan Mahon's inswinging kick evaded everybody and went out for a goal kick.
And two minutes later, a mistake by Danny Boshell let in Mahon.The ex-Blackburn midfielder moved forward before hitting a casual shot which didn't trouble Barnes.
Grimsby's first real chance came after 17 minutes, when a good move across midfield led to Rankin being played in inside the box.He couldn't quite get control of the ball though and it ran out for a goal kick.
Neither side was in full control of the game at this point, although Town gained in confidence as the half went on, as they did on Saturday, and began to play some good, passing football in patches.
Chances were at a premium at both ends though, with neither goalkeeper called into action in the opening 20 minutes.
Burnley won a free kick on 25 minutes after a foul by Justin Whittle.Mahon's effort from 25 yards deflected off the Town wall and went out for a corner.
Then a free kick was awarded to the Mariners after a foul on Ryan Bennett on the right side, level with the 18 yard line.Tom Newey's kick was driven in towards Rankin, who was adjudged to be fouling his opponent and referee Oliver blew for a free kick to the visitors.
Another free kick was given to Town on 34 minutes, which led to Toner moving towards the by-line on the left.His ball across fell to Rankin but the striker's mis-hit shot flew well wide.
Burnley keeper Brian Jensen saw his first action on 37 minutes, when he had to dive to his right to save Peter Till's volley after another Toner cross from the left.
Soon afterwards it was Phil Barnes who had to dive to keep out a 25-yard drive from Stephen Foster.The Burnley man's diagonal shot proved to be comfortable for the Town stopper.
One minute of stoppage time was added at the end of a first half that had been lacking in clear-cut chances for either side.Grimsby will have been pleased to have restricted their opponents but would surely be looking to create more in the second half.
Alan Buckley may also have been looking for the ball to be on the floor more, playing to the feet of Rankin for him to hold play up rather than the lone striker being forced to chase long balls.
Burnley appeared to be playing to the strengths of the Mariners back four, hitting long diagonal balls in the air where a pacy, passing game may have caused much more damage.
No changes were made at half time by either side and it was Burnley who had the first chance of the second half when Alan Mahon picked the ball up on the right.His cross was comfortably cleared by Bennett for a throw-in.
Town won a corner on 50 minutes on the left.Toner's ball in eventually fell to Till, who earned a second corner on the right.This time, his kick was drilled to the far post and cleared for a third consecutive corner.
Till was then put through by Rankin as the Mariners continued their spell of pressure.Again though, Town weren't able to fashion a goalscoring opportunity.
Grimsby had made by far the better start to the second half and could have gone ahead when Bolland picked up a loose ball 25 yards out.Unfortunately, his shot fizzed just over the bar.
Alan Buckley made his first change just afterwards, bringing on Danny North for Rankin.
Burnley then had their own spell of pressure, winning a succession of corners in front of the 371 travelling supporters.The game stopped for David Unsworth to receive treatment before another Alan Mahon corner, which was cleared by Hunt.
The Mariners won another corner on 62 minutes but again, Toner couldn't set up an opportunity for Town to convert their pressure into an opening goal.
Steve Cotterill then replaced his front two, bringing on Robbie Blake and Andy Gray in place of Ade Akinbiyi and Kyle Lafferty.
It was clear now that the added threat posed by Blake and Gray would cause the Town defence problems, and the visitors and their supporters were galvanised by the substitutions.
David Unsworth became the first man to go into the referee's notebook when he was shown the yellow card for a challenge from behind on Danny North.
Then Phil Barnes was booked for a challenge on Andy Gray.The Burnley striker was put through and the Town keeper raced out of his area to challenge.Gray was sent tumbling to the ground but Barnes was spared as he was not adjudged to be the last man.
Town's next opportunity saw Ciaran Toner moving down the left.He spotted the run of Danny Boshell in the middle and slid the ball through.Boshell's side-footed shot was saved well by the feet of Jensen.
Alan Buckley then made his second substitution, bringing Gary Jones on to play alongside North for the final 16 minutes.James Hunt was the man to make way for the big striker as Town reverted to 4-4-2 for the closing quarter of an hour.
Barnes had to be alert as Gray was put through one-on-one on 77 minutes.The Town keeper raced off his line to collect though as the lively Clarets striker was about to flick the ball home.
As the game moved into the last ten minutes, the most likely outcome looked like a draw followed by extra time, although the entertainment value had certainly increased in the second half with both teams attacking and keeping the ball down.
With six minutes to go, Town won another corner and another chance to put pressure on the visitors' goal.It was cleared for a throw in, which eventually led to Toner firing over from 12 yards.
It was all Town by now and any goal would almost certainly be the winner.Try as they might though, the Mariners couldn't force a breakthrough inside the 90 minutes and the game went into extra time.
Burnley made their final substitution, replacing Unsworth with Jon Harley, and it was the Clarets who had the first chance of the extra half-hour with a corner.Toner intercepted and tried to set up a counter-attack with no success.
The away side dominated the first five minutes but Town were holding their own as they had done throughout the 90 minutes.
And when the opening goal finally did come, it was the Mariners who scored it.A through ball from Toner found DANNY NORTH and his pace saw him round keeper Jensen before slotting home in front of the Pontoon to the delight of the home supporters.The strike after seven minutes of extra time saw Grimsby take a deserved lead and gave North the distinction of scoring Town's 7000th goal in all competitions.
North was then inches away from extending the lead.He set off on a solo run from the halfway line before shooting against the bar from 20 yards with two minutes to play in the first period.
The excellent Danny Boshell had the first chance of the second half as he fired into the arms of Jensen from just outside the box.
Town couldn't hold onto their lead though and after 17 minutes, Burnley got their equaliser.ANDY GRAY got the ball inside the box and made no mistake, calmy slotting past Barnes.
And just a minute later, the comeback should have been complete.The visitors passed their way through the Town midfield and a low cross found Steve Jones at the far post.Luckily for Town though, he shot over when it looked easier to score.
Town made their final substitution, sending Peter Bore on for the final nine minutes of the contest.
It was the visitors who finished the stronger, launching waves of attacks, which the Mariners bravely resisted to take the game to penalties.
Ciaran Toner missed Town's first spot kick to leave the Mariners on the back foot but Barnes' save from Harley ensured Town were still in it.
But Jensen's save from Fenton, coupled with no further Burnley mistakes meant the Championship side were through to round two.
PENALTIES
Blake SCORED bottom right (0-1)
Toner MISSED over bar (0-1)
Harley SAVED Barnes to left (0-1)
Newey SCORED top right (1-1)
Gray SCORED sent Barnes wrong way (1-2)
Fenton SAVED to left (1-2)
Mahon SCORED top corner (1-3)
North SCORED cool penalty bottom right (2-3)
O'Connor SCORED top centre (2-4)
