Grimsby Town 2 Northampton Town 0 - the match report
FA CUP WITH BUDWEISER, 2ND ROUND
Saturday December 7, 3.00pm
Blundell Park
GRIMSBY TOWN 2
Shaun Pearson 64
Paddy McLaughlin 90
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0
Attendance: 3,828 (259 Cobblers fans)
Grimsby: James McKeown, Sam Hatton, Aswad Thomas, Scott Kerr, Shaun Pearson, Craig Disley, Scott Neilson (sub Joe Colbeck 68), Clayton McDonald, Ross Hannah (sub Paddy McLaughlin 88), Lennell John-Lewis, Alex Rodman.
Subs not used: Chris Doig, Andy Cook, Paul Bignot, Andy Thanoj, Dayle Southwell
Cobblers: Matt Duke, Kevin Amankwaah, Joe Widdowson (sub Luke Norris 85), Mathias Kouo-Doumbe, Paul Reid, Chris Hackett, Ricky Ravenhill, Gary Deegan (sub Ishmel Demontagnac 85), Ian Morris, Danny Emerton (sub Clive Platt 58), Jacob Blyth
Subs not used: Ben McNamara, Darren Carter, Lee Collins, Ivan Toney
Referee: Mr S Mathieson
Booked:
Grimsby: Shaun Pearson (38)
Cobblers: Gary Deegan (26, 8th of the season), Ricky Ravenhill (86, 2nd)
5 cautions on or before 31 December; 1 match suspension
10 cautions on or before 11 April; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Grimsby: none
Cobblers: none
Sendings off: 2 cautions in one game; 1 match suspension but cautions do not count towards above totals. Other sendings off; 1 or 3 match suspension. Extra match ban for additional sendings off.
Chris Hackett, back from suspension after serving a one-match ban for accumulated bookings, Jacob Blyth and Ian Morris all came into the Cobblers side for their FA Cup second round tie at Grimsby. Clive Platt started on the bench with on-loan duo Izale McLeod (cup-tied) and Stuart Dallas (not given permission to play by Brentford) unavailable for selection.
The game was preceded by a minute's applause in memory of Nelson Mandela.
Lennell John-Lewis flashed a header across the face of goal after a frantic opening few minutes. The game then settled down after that with the majority of the play taking place in midfield.
James McKeown made a good save to deny an Ian Morris header on 33 minutes before Scott Kerr sliced a shot wide for the Mariners. Chris Hackett then went close with a free-kick that just didn't quite dip enough.
Grimsby enjoyed a good spell of pressure just before the hour mark, Ross Hannah denied by a terrific save from Duke and Kevin Amankwaah getting across well to deflect a shot from Scott Kerr behind. With the Mariners now with their tails up Aidy Boothroyd made a change, Clive Platt coming on for Danny Emerton.
The home side then took the lead on 64 minutes, Scott Kerr's free-kick met by the head of Shaun Pearson.
As the Cobblers looked to get back on level terms referee Scott Mathieson waved away appeals for a handball while a shot from Blyth deflected into the arms of McKeown.
Luke Norris and Ishmel Demontagnac both then came on for the final 6 minutes, replacing Joe Widdowson and Gary Deegan.
Platt fired over on 89 minutes before Mathias Doumbe did likewise as the game entered four minutes of stoppage time.
With the Cobblers pushing forward Grimsby substitute Paddy McLaughlin sealed the tie for the Mariners with a goal deep into injury time.
GRIMSBY MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 4
CORNERS: (3) 7
FOULS: (7) 13
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (3) 3
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 6
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (4) 6
CORNERS: (3) 8
FOULS: (7) 14
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 2
The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by Opta.