Grimsby Town v Port Vale
Match Report by Dave Johnson
From Blundell Park
Attendance: 1,906 including 112 visiting supporters
TEAMS:
GRIMSBY TOWN: James McKeown, Michael Coulson, Craig Disley, Liam Hearn, Shaun Perason, Serge Makofo, Bradley Wood, Conor Townsend, Emmanuel Panther, Charlie l'Anson, Anthony Elding. SUBS: Gary Silk, Scott Garner, Damian Spencer, Frankie Artus,, Rob Duffy, Andi Thanoj, Rob Eagle
PORT VALE: Chris Martin, Adam Yates, Clayton McDonald, John McCombe, Lee Collins, Sam Morsy, Anthony Griffith, Gary Roberts, Rob Taylor, Tom Pope, Louis Dodds. SUBS: Stuart Tomlinson, Phil Roe, Rob Kozluk, Sean Rigg, Ryan Lloyd, Joe Davies.
Boss Micky Adams made four changes to his starting eleven for the first round replay at Blundell Park against GrimsbyTown.
Gary Roberts and Anthony Griffith each returned from suspension and they were joined by Clayton McDonald and Chris Martin.
Doug Loft failed a fitness test in the morning, whilst Stuart Tomlinson and Sean Rigg had to settle for a place on the bench. Liam Chilvers' parent club, NottsCounty, wouldn't allow him to become cup-tied.
The injury situation left Vale with jus enough bodies for six substitutes on the bench, including Ryan Lloyd and Joe Davies, each who had played in the FA Youth Cup against Sheffield United the previous night.
Vale were forced to change their shirts and play in Grimsby's third choice tops in red, with a white flash across the top of the chest, along with the grey shorts and socks.
Vale started lively, pegging the home side back inside their own half, running Grimsby ragged at times and both Sam Morsy and Lee Collins went close for the Valiants.
Although Vale were dominating things, the home side went closest to opening the scoring when Hearn intercepted a back header by Collins and Chris Martin had to have his wits about him to make the save.
Vale went close when Morsy fed Louis Dodds who took a touch before driving low and Grimsby 'keeper McKeown's stuck out a foot to make the save.
A minute later Morsy tried his luck from 25 yards, firing low to McKeown's left, but the ball struck the upright to deny Vale an opener.
Hearn had what was arguably the best chance of the match up to that point in the 33rd minute when he forced his way into the Vale box, but he hurried his shot, lifting it over the crossbar.
As in the first half went on the home side began to look stronger and it took a couple of headers from McDonald, on each occasion putting the ball out for a corner kick, to keep them at bay.
The Mariners could have gone in front early in the second half. Gary Roberts, sporting a new, rather severe, haircut stuck his head in to nod back to Martin.
Former Crewe man Anthony Elding latched on to it and hit his shot early, but his curling shot flashed across the face of the Vale goal and went out for a goal kick.
GOAL: Vale had a let off when they managed to clear off the line in the 58th minute but a minute later the home side were ahead when Serge Makofo tucked the ball inside Martin's left hand post from 12 yards.
Vale looked shell shocked and struggled to find an answer to unlock the door at the other end, whilst the home side continued to play with confidence.
On 70 minutes Vale made a cgange when Sean Rigg was sent on in place of Sam Morsy.
Martin made a great save to prevent Elding doubling the home side's lead when he stuck out a hand instinctively to deny the unmarked Grimsby striker.
Moments later it was McKeown's turn to make a save, diving spectacularly to his right to turn away a fierce drive from Roberts.
Vale were still very much in the tie, but with the clock ticking away they desperately need an equaliser.
Vale made their second substitution in the 82nd minute when Rob Kozluk was sent on in place of Clayton McDonald and in the 86th minute Phil Roe went on for Adam Yates.
McKeown did well, coming off his line to deny Rigg in the 87th minute as Vale desperately pushed looking for an equaliser.
In the end they just couldn't fine the goal they were looking for and the club must wait another year for a taste of cup success.
