Match report by David Elliott at Blundell Park
GRIMSBY Town took the first step on a road that could lead to Wembley with a convincing 4-1 victory over League One side Huddersfield Town in the first round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy at Blundell Park.
The Mariners produced a fantastic performance against the disappointing Terriers to run out comfortable winners and crucially, converted good chances into goals to seal their first competitive win of the season.
Town dominated the opening 45 minutes but fell behind in first half stoppage time when Michael Collins opened the scoring for the visitors.
The Mariners went in level at the break though after they replied within a minute, Nick Fenton's header beating Matt Glennon.
And Grimsby took the lead through Ciaran Toner soon after the restart before further strikes from Isaiah Rankin and Peter Till earned the Mariners a place in round two.
Alan Buckley promised to take this competition seriously and this was reflected in his team selection.Just two changes were made to the team that lost at Shrewsbury on Saturday, and both of those alterations were forced.
Dave Mulligan made his first start for the Mariners as he came in for the suspended Ryan Bennett at right back, while Andy Taylor took the place of the injured Paul Bolland as Buckley started with two strikers.
Isaiah Rankin kept his place as the other striker after impressing playing as a lone frontman in previous games, in front of a midfield of Peter Till, Danny Boshell, James Hunt and Ciaran Toner.
Mulligan, Justin Whittle, Nick Fenton and Tom Newey made up the back four, with Phil Barnes again starting in goal.
The Town subs were Danny North, Gary Jones, Peter Bore, Jamie Clarke and Gary Montgomery.
Huddersfield boss Andy Ritchie had also emphasized the importance of this competition to the West Yorkshire side, and the Terriers boss also named a strong starting XI, boasting nine of the players that were in the team for their away win at Millwall at the weekend.
Of that starting line up, Frank Sinclair would miss out tonight after picking up a hamstring strain at the New Den.Club legend and former Sheffield Wednesday striker Andy Booth was the other one not selected again this evening.
The visitors sported an orange third kit as their first choice colours of blue and white stripes would clash with the stripes of the Mariners, while their away colours of all black would also be similar to Town's home shirt.
Huddersfield kicked off in front of a sparse Blundell Park crowd in an atmosphere more suited to a reserve game but it was the Mariners who had the first chance.Peter Till crossed to Isaiah Rankin but the forward's header was straight at visiting goalkeeper Matt Glennon.
Town won a corner on 10 minutes when good hold up play by Rankin led to Till getting the ball on the right.He crossed to Toner but the Irishman's shot was blocked. The corner then led to a header from Fenton which was claimed by Glennon.
The Mariners had started well, playing some good passing football while Huddersfield had tried to play a long ball game without ever troubling the Town defence.
Town had another good chance in the 12th minute when Taylor beat his man before racing into the box.He couldn't pick out a fellow attacker though and the chance was lost.
Soon afterwards, the Mariners won another corner on the left.Again, the ball across fell to Fenton, who headed just wide.
Town continued to be the greater attacking force and won another corner with 21 minutes on the clock.Again, Toner's kick was aimed at Fenton but this time, the Huddersfield defence were able to clear.
Rankin had the ball in the net a minute later but play was brought back for an earlier infringement, giving Town a free kick 25 yards from goal.Nathan Clarke received the first booking of the night before Mulligan's free kick curled wide of Glennon's near post.
Grimsby won another free kick on the right on 27 minutes.Newey's inswinger fell to Fenton but the Huddersfield defence were able to partially clear.Town worked the ball back with Toner and Newey linking up well on the left before Newey was caught offside.
Huddersfield's first chance came on 28 minutes.Luke Beckett picked the ball up and shot from the edge of the box with Barnes slightly off his line.The Town stopper was not troubled though as the ball looped over the bar.
Town could have opened the scoring on the half hour when Mulligan was released by Taylor.The New Zealand international got to the by-line but hesitated in pulling the ball back, giving the Terriers defence time to recover when a quick ball to the unmarked Toner at the far post would probably have proved more profitable.
Justin Whittle had to be alert when a long ball was prodded through towards Beckett in the Town half.The Grimsby defender was able to cover and put the ball out for a throw.
Fenton then became the first Mariner to go into referee Oliver's book for a foul on the edge of his own box.Huddersfield tried a set move from the free kick but it came to nothing as Town cleared.
There was a chance for Boshell on 37 minutes after good work by Taylor on the left touchline.He passed inside to the midfielder, who took a touch before firing over.
Rankin was the next to miss a good chance when he was played in by Mulligan.The Town striker turned inside the box before firing a low shot, which was saved by Glennon.
Huddersfield won a corner on the right with six minutes of the half to play when Fenton headed the ball out.The inswinger was dealt with by Town and cleared for another corner.This time, Andy Holdsworth's wild shot from 20 yards cleared the roof of the empty Pontoon Stand.
Town wasted yet another glorious chance on 42 minutes.Again, Taylor got in behind the visitors' defence and pulled the ball back for the onrushing Danny Boshell.He tried to sidefoot home through a crowd of players but defender Nathan Clarke managed to get back and clear off the line.
As the game moved into two minutes of stoppage time, the visitors took the lead with one of their first clear chances.A ball from the right found MICHAEL COLLINS, who slotted past Barnes from the left side of the box.It was harsh on the Mariners, who had dominated throughout the half.
Grimsby didn't deserve to go in at half time a goal down, and in the final minute of stoppage time, they got their equaliser.Danny Boshell's corner from the right again found FENTON and this time, the central defender powered his header past Glennon into the top corner of the net.
Overall, Town had played the better football throughout the opening 45 minutes and perhaps should have been in the lead at half time.But Alan Buckley will have been pleased with the way his side responded to going a goal down and the few Mariners supporters present would hope they would gain a psychological advantage from levelling the game so soon before the break.
Huddersfield had the first chance to get back in front in the second half.Collins turned and shot from the edge of the area but luckily for Town, the ball flew just wide of Barnes' goal.
But it was the Mariners who took a deserved lead on 48 minutes.James Hunt had a run on the right side before hitting a cross shot.The ball eventually fell to CIARAN TONER, who picked up the pieces and slotted past Glennon for his second goal of the season.
Town had begun the second half as they had played the first and they extended their lead just four minutes later.Another Mariners corner from the left was flicked on by the head of Fenton before being headed into the net by ISAIAH RANKIN.The striker had deserved his first goal of the season and hitting the net would surely boost his confidence further.
Huddersfield had a penalty appeal turned down when Schofield's ball towards Malvin Kamara was cut out by Newey.The away players and supporters shouted for handball against the Town man but the claims were waved away.
The Terriers did win a free kick on 61 minutes, 30 yards out in a central position.Joe Skarz shot but Barnes did well to acrobatically palm the ball wide for a corner.
Huddersfield then made their first change of the evening when Matthew Young replaced Danny Schofield and Alan Buckley responded soon afterwards by sending on Danny North in place of Rankin.
The visitors were awarded a free kick on the left of the box for a foul by Mulligan after 65 minutes but Town were able to comfortably clear.Huddersfield were beginning to shade the possession but crucially, it was the Mariners who had the goals on the scoreboard.
And Town extended their lead on 67 minutes, thanks to a goalkeeping error.Glennon came out to claim a ball from the left but he couldn't hold onto it.Instead, it came to PETER TILL, who rebounded it back into the empty net from 15 yards.
Huddersfield's next move was to replace Luke Beckett with Lucas Akins as the League One side looked to get themselves back into the contest.
But it was Town who continued to dominate, winning another corner with 71 minutes gone.This time it was a short one, with Till's cross going out for a goal kick.
Grimsby made another substitution with 16 minutes to go as Jamie Clarke came on for Danny Boshell.
And the Mariners could have made it five when Andy Taylor was fouled on the left.The free kick was again met by Fenton but this time he headed just wide from six yards.
Straight afterwards, Huddersfield boss Andy Ritchie made his final change, sending on Tom Clarke in place of Nathan Clarke.
And his side could have got a second goal when Whittle's weak defensive header fell to Kamara.His shot was comfortable for Barnes, who dived to his left.
Alan Buckley used his final substitution to introduce Peter Bore in place of Peter Till before a Mariners free kick on the left eight minutes from time.Toner's ball into the box was comfortably cleared.
Andy Holdsworth became the second Huddersfield player to see a yellow card when he fouled Bore on the halfway line.
The Town youngster didn't waste any time in getting involved in the game, making a series of eye-catching runs forward before releasing North, then Taylor for good shooting chances.
Huddersfield had the final chance of the game with Michael Collins shooting from 20 yards.Barnes got down well to stop the drive and after three minutes of added time, the referee blew for full time.
The Town players came off the pitch after a superb team performance to a standing ovation from the supporters in the Carlsberg Stand; supporters who will now look forward to Saturday morning's draw for round two.
