The only surprising thing about this scoreline was that it took 90 minutes to achieve it. This was as one-sided a game in our favour that I've seen for quite some time. Grimsby were awful; if you were one of the 120 or so Mariners you would have been disgusted with the lack of fight produced by them. Still, credit where it's due: we played well, and we've had more than our fair share of lacklustre performances in the past, not to mention this season.
At 1-0, and Glen off the pitch getting his hand/wrist bandaged, Grimsby attacked and had 1 or 2 chances. Okay, they didn't make Nico make a save, but they should have had shots on target, and if they had scored you just know that all confidence would have visibly drained from us, and we'd have gone on to lose. Fortunately that didn't happen, but I was still not happy until Blake's penalty 5 minutes from the end made it 3-0.
There was always the possibility that we wouldn't give this game as much respect or take it seriously enough. Stan has obviously instilled in the team the vital importance of another good Cup run (could we really have two in one season?) to the financial fortunes of the club. IF we go on to beat Brentford, and get a plum 5th round draw, then it's because of the effort put in in earlier rounds.
We set our stall out right from the kick off - this was a Burnley team who were up for it, and weren't going to take this game lightly. How it took as long as 25 minutes to open the scoring is a bit of a mystery. We'd created a number of chances, Robbie Blake instrumental in most of them. I know I'm not the first to admit I was wrong about him - Stan was right (again) - but I'm glad I was wrong.
Ian Moore was only inches away from Glen's right-wing cross with a diving header, and Blake had warmed the hands of Grimsby keeper Coyne from the left. When the first goal came it was route one stuff. A huge kick from Nico was eventually controlled by Moore I, but the finish was quality, and with his left foot from 20 yards. Only our second goal from outside the box this season, and both of them in Cup games.
For all our possession that's how it stayed until half time. At times we want to walk the ball into the net, and when the ball was in wide positions there were too few Claret shirts in the box. Crosses were easily dealt with - how we miss Gareth Taylor. Isn't it funny that previous years' boo boy victims Taylor, Cook, and Branch are now applauded. Still there's always someone else to have a go at, and Tony Grant and Moore A will do. Incidentally both had good games; still, all they have to do is put one foot wrong and that's what will be remembered.
Grimsby didn't come out fired up in the second half, and the game pattern carried on in the same vein. Robbie's shot hit the side netting. Grant passed when it looked a better option to shoot. Alan Moore teed up Blake, and although he twisted and turned he couldn't get his shot in.
The second goal came 10 minutes from the end. A typical mazy run by Glen, not dissimilar to the famous Bristol Rovers goal, took him into the box. He beat 3 or 4 defenders twice, and turned 360 degrees on a sixpence before firing home. Papa had already replaced Moore A by this time, and it was our Greek over-21 striker who won us a penalty 5 minutes later. Yes, it was a foul, but it was outside the box, Papa's dive landing him nearer to the penalty spot. Referee Laws G waved away our protests; however the linesman on the Bob Lord side had seen it - what's more he'd seen it inside the area. I guess that's evened it up for the dreadful pen for Grimsby at Blundell Park in the first encounter. Papa has obviously been told that Robbie takes the pens, and didn't try and wrestle the ball from him, nor did he try and encroach into the area while the kick was duly dispatched into the left-hand corner of the net.
With the game over for all intents and purposes, Robbie left the field, cue big cheer for substitute Andy Payton. In the final minute Moore I scored a wonderful solo goal, to cap off a man of the match performance. We got an extra rendition of Tom Hark at the final whistle (as if 4 blasts weren't enough). Personally I preferred their double A-sided single Coloured Music / Jilly - probably more difficult to get hold of though.
West McGregor Gnohere Branch
Little Grant Cook Moore A
Attendance: 5,436.
Scorers: Moore I (25, 90), Little (79), Blake (86, pen).
Referee: G Laws (Whitley Bay).
Becko's Man of the Match: Ian Moore.
Bring on the Brentford