Our Young Mariners were beaten for the first time this season as they were knocked out of the FA Youth Cup by Doncaster Rovers at Blundell Park.

With a third-round tie against last season’s winners Aston Villa on the line, Town made a dream start when Elliott Smith headed them into the lead within two minutes.

But Doncaster grew into the game and after a spell of pressure, they drew level seven minutes before the break through Aaron Cashmore.

The hosts dominated for long periods of the second half and created several opportunities to win the game.

But it was not to be for Neil Woods’ side, as Alex Pavan scored 13 minutes from time to settle the second-round contest in the South Yorkshire club’s favour.

Town reached this stage of the competition with a 6-1 away victory over Loughborough Students in round one and were aiming to extend their unbeaten record in all competitions so far this season.

Doncaster also enjoyed a comfortable win in the first round, beating Radcliffe 4-2 at the Eco-Power Stadium, although they had taken just nine points from 10 EFL Youth Alliance league games so far this season and sat 15 points adrift of the Young Mariners in the north-east division.

FIRST HALF

Town won an early corner after Elliott Smith capitalised on a mistake in the away defence, although Charlie Hatton’s delivery from the flag was headed clear.

It did not take much longer for the hosts to break the deadlock though, as a free kick inside the Doncaster half from Hatton picked out SMITH and he headed past goalkeeper Harry Gardham to put the Young Mariners 1-0 up.

Rovers’ response saw them win a corner at the other end but the ball from it went through to keeper Hayden Rogers.

Mamadu Jalloh dealt with a cross from the away left, before Lennon Petterson set off on a run down the Grimsby left which eventually led to a corner.  From it, the home side almost doubled their advantage as Smith connected with a header but it was well-cleared off the line by Cashmore.

The pressure continued when a home free kick resulted in another corner, which turned into a third in quick succession as Cashmore again hooked off the line, although this time, the visitors brought the ball clear of danger.

Good defending by Kian Hawley saw him stop Deshaun Musgrave-Dore inside the Town box, before a chip into the penalty area from George Smith at the other end proved just too far ahead of Elliott Smith and Gardham gathered.

Rogers made a comfortable stop from Pavan and Harvey Booth fired wide from a narrow angle on the right as both sides created a chance within seconds of each other on 23 minutes.

A Rhomani Murray effort was blocked and Swales looped a header through to Rogers as Doncaster continued to look for an equaliser, then a 20-yard strike by Cashmore took a heavy deflection which made it comfortable for the keeper.

The away side were on top as the half-hour mark passed but Booth created excitement as he set off on a run from the Town right which took him all the way into the penalty area until he was eventually stopped by a good challenge.

But soon afterwards, Doncaster grabbed a deserved leveller, as a corner from the left was met by CASHMORE to head past Rogers at the near post and make it 1-1 with 38 minutes on the clock.

A Hatton free kick was headed clear as Town aimed to restore their advantage before the break but the momentum was now with the visitors and they won another corner when an Ashton Swales cross was deflected behind.  This time, Jalloh headed the flag-kick clear.

The latest away corner came from a blocked Pavan shot and another one followed as the first half moved into one added minute.  The pressure continued with a further flag-kick and this time, Rogers had to be at his best to keep out Lincoln Pawlak with a superb reaction save and ensure the scores remained level at the interval.

SECOND HALF

Ted Sharp replaced George Smith for Town before the restart and an early away corner was headed clear by Jalloh at the near post.

A Petterson cross-shot was caught by Gardham as the hosts attacked for the first time since the break, then a Hatton free kick was scrambled away from danger.

The Young Mariners kept attacking and a big chance came seconds later as Gardham could only parry a powerful long-range drive from Jalloh into the path of Sharp, although he could not keep the rebound down.

Murray was off-target from 25 yards at the other end, before another opportunity fell for the hosts as Petterson pounced on a loose ball and took it forward into the box.  He looked up and pulled it back for Jalloh but his first-time shot flew just over the bar.

Smith fired wide from the edge of the box and Sharp was denied by Gardham as Grimsby continued to create chances.

Ethan Hodgett then shot straight at Rogers on the hour, before a stoppage came for Cashmore to receive treatment.

Murray had Doncaster’s next chance on 63 minutes but again, Rogers made a comfortable stop from his 20-yard strike.

A foul on Petterson brought the first yellow card of the evening for Pawlak, although the offside flag went up as Hatton sent the resulting free kick into the penalty area.

Kaylan Thompson replaced Charlie Pinder in Doncaster’s first change on 67 minutes and he was straight into the action with a shot which was well-blocked by Fortune Onoh.

Jalloh had another opportunity at the other end soon afterwards but could not generate the power needed to beat Gardham.

The game remained in the balance with 20 minutes to go, as both sides searched for what looked increasingly likely to be a winning goal.

Booth saw a shot blocked after a Hatton corner from the right broke for him inside the box, then a low cross from Petterson was stopped by keeper Gardham after a good pass from Onoh.

The evening’s third goal finally arrived with 13 minutes to go and it was the visitors who completed the turnaround to grab the lead.  Swales found the space to run from midfield and find PAVAN, who curled a shot beyond the dive of Rogers from the left side of the penalty area.

Fortune Jack replaced Booth for Town after the goal and Kristian Catchpole followed him onto the pitch in place of Petterson two minutes later.

Sharp had an opportunity to equalise on 81 minutes after running onto a great ball down the left from Charlie Elliot.  The striker cut inside and let fly from the edge of the box but could only watch his low shot go just wide of the far post.

Sharp won a corner as the Young Mariners kept looking for a way back into the contest, then Gardham got just enough on the ball from a low cross to divert it away from Smith.

Pavan headed wide from a corner and Bobby Harpham came on for Musgrave-Dore as less than three minutes of normal time now stood between the away side and a place in the third round.

But Town continued to search for an equaliser and they were given at least six additional minutes to find it.

Sharp headed against the bar from a left-wing Hatton corner and the Young Mariners kept pushing forward in a bid to take the game to extra time.

But they were unable to find a way through as Doncaster held on to seal their victory and set up a clash with Villa in the next round.

Town: Rogers, Edwards, Jalloh, Hatton, Elliot, Onoh, Booth (Jack, 78), Hawley, Elliott Smith, George Smith (Sharp, 46), Petterson (Catchpole, 80)

Subs not used: Carrick, Hall, Pratt, Neagu

UTM