Our Young Mariners produced a huge FA Youth Cup upset to knock out 2023 winners West Ham United on a magical night at Blundell Park.

Neil Woods’ side were forced to soak up pressure throughout the evening as they took on one of the country’s top under-18 teams in a third round clash under the lights.

But they stood up to the challenge superbly in a magnificent defensive display and grabbed the only goal of the game through Grayson Giles’ header to seal a deserved place in round four.

West Ham dominated possession but were unable to find a way through the Grimsby defence and with a sizeable crowd roaring them on, the hosts held firm to register their second victory over a Category One academy side in two seasons after last term’s third round success against Nottingham Forest.

Victories on the road at Mansfield Town and at home against Salford City earned the Young Mariners another opportunity to test themselves against elite opposition, while West Ham were featuring in this season’s competition for the first time at the third-round stage.

And the Grimsby team had a familiar look to it, with Alfie Foy coming in for Mamadu Jalloh in the only alteration to the XI that began the second round clash with Salford.

The visitors arrived in Cleethorpes on a six-match unbeaten run in the U18 Premier League and looking to start a run which could end with the club lifting the FA Youth Cup for a fifth time.

Their 2023 success came with a 5-1 win against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, although the east Londoners’ defence of the trophy last season ended with a fourth-round defeat by eventual cup winners Manchester City.

A foul by Callum Storr gave West Ham an early free kick, although Hammers captain Preston Fearon could only send it high over keeper Seb Auton’s bar.

The away side then won the game’s first corner on seven minutes an after the danger from it was not fully dealt with, Elisha Sowunmi cut inside from the right and aimed for the near post but Auton got down to make a stop.

West Ham dominated possession in the early stages and Town’s first opportunity to attack came on 11 minutes through Giles on the right but after he held the ball up well, a low cross was cleared.

Elliot Smith did well to win the ball in midfield and take it forward as the hosts continued to come into the game, although his low ball into the penalty area was cut out.

Sowunmi won a corner at the other end but Giles was in place to clear it at the far post and the Young Mariners continued to hold firm in defence as the midway point of the half passed.

Goalkeeper Finley Hooper caught a Smith cross from the left as Town got forward again just before the half-hour, before a foul on Emeka Adiele gave West am a free kick in a dangerous position. Sowunmi’s shot from it hit the Town wall and Fearon’s follow-up was off-target.

And although the visitors continued to dominate possession, when the deadlock was broken on 38 minutes, it was Grimsby who took the lead. Tom Rennardson looked up from the left and sent a great cross over for Giles to head past Hooper and put the hosts ahead.

Josh Ajala saw a 20-yard strike take a deflection on its way wide for a corner as the Hammers looked to respond and when the flag-kick broke for Fearon on the edge of the box, his shot was comfortably caught by Auton.

One added minute was played at the end of the first half and after Ezra Mayers headed wide from a chipped Fearon free kick, Town retained the advantage going into the interval.

SECOND HALF

No changes were made before the restart and Jack Collins was booked for an early foul, having escaped a yellow card for a late challenge before the break.

Adiele won a free kick when he was brought down on the edge of the Town box after a run from the left but the home lead remained intact as Gabriel Caliste fired over the bar.

Chinaza Nwosu became the first West Ham player to be booked soon afterwards as the Young Mariners attacked down the right. Henry Brown’s free kick found Smith but his header was held by keeper Hooper.

Right-back Jethro Medine won a corner at the other end and the delivery from it was met by Airidas Golambeckis but Auton got to his looping header to tip the ball to safety for another corner.

A further away free kick was well dealt with and more good defending by Storr stopped Caliste after a run through the middle by Fearon as the visitors kept searching for an opening for an equaliser.

Auton stood tall to deny Caliste on 65 minutes, before Rennardson became the latest to be shown the yellow card.

Ajala was the next to find himself with a good chance to make it 1-1 two minutes later but his shot on the turn from 12 yards did not test Auton as the keeper watched it fly over his bar.

Town had an opportunity of their own on 73 minutes as Giles created an opening for himself on he edge of the box, although his strike took a deflection off a teammate on it way wide for a goal kick.

The Young Mariners had stood up to the West Ham pressure well and were starting to see more of the ball in attacking areas themselves, with Charlie Hatton increasingly influential in midfield.

The visitors made the first substitution in a bid to force an equaliser, with Majid Balogun replacing Caliste in attack.

Aaron Kamara came on for Nwosu soon afterwards and another free kick was dealt with by the Town defence as Finley Axcell headed Fearon’s delivery clear.

Town’s first change saw Jalloh come on for Rennardson with 10 minutes to go and another corner was repelled, with Hatton leading a counter-attack. He passed to Brown and the midfielder worked an opening for a shot but could only find the gloves of Hooper.

The clock was ticking down and the Young Mariners were closing in on a famous victory but the away side continued to probe, with Axcell rising to head yet another corner clear.

Auton got down to make a stop from Sowunmi with two minutes to go, before Giles was off-target with an ambitious attempt from 40 yards.

Two added minutes were played at the end of the game and the Young Mariners finished the job in style as their visitors ran out of time to find their way back into the contest.

And the final whistle sparked memorable celebrations on the pitch as Town confirmed their place in the next round.

Town: Seb Auton, Callum Storr, Alex Graham, Alfie Foy, Finley Axcell, Charlie Hatton, Jack Collins, Elliot Smith, Grayson Giles, Henry Brown, Tom Rennardson (Mamadu Jalloh, 80)

Subs not used: Hayden Rogers, Carlo Midwinter, Corey Foster, Charlie Carrick, Fortune Onoh, Harvey Booth