The Mariners moved into the second round of the Carabao Cup with a 3-1 victory over Shrewsbury Town at Blundell Park.

A much-changed Town side ensured several members of the squad got their first opportunities of the season to impress from the start.

And they dominated the tie, with Justin Amaluzor opening the scoring before Jamie Walker saw a penalty saved.

Instead, it was Cameron Gardner who doubled the hosts’ advantage five minutes after the break and although Shrewsbury pulled a goal back through Tom Sang, substitute Jaze Kabia’s added-time penalty confirmed Town’s place in Wednesday’s draw for round two.

Head coach David Artell, made seven alterations to his Grimsby XI following the 3-3 draw at Harrogate Town on Saturday, with only Christy Pym, Doug Tharme, Evan Khouri and Darragh Burns starting both games.

Pym was in goal, with Sam Lavelle and Reece Staunton making their competitive debuts for the club as they lined up alongside Tyrell Warren and Tharme in defence. Geza Turi and Khouri sat behind Burns, Walker and Amaluzor in midfield, with Gardner leading the attack.

Seb Auton, Harvey Rodgers, Jayden Sweeney, George McEachran, Kieran Green, Henry Brown, Charles Vernam, Kabia and Fortune Onoh made up a nine-man substitutes’ bench.

Shrewsbury made the journey from Shropshire looking for a first victory of the season, having lost one and drawn one of their opening games in Sky Bet League Two.

Head coach Michael Appleton, also made seven changes to his team following their 4-0 defeat by Tranmere Rovers on Saturday, with former Mariners defender Toto Nsiala and ex-Town loanee striker George Lloyd among those to come in.

FIRST HALF

Defender Mal Benning was shown the first yellow card of the evening for a foul on Walker, in what was otherwise a quiet opening to the game.

Khouri fired over the bar after Amaluzor’s low cross towards Gardner was blocked as Town got their first sight of goal on nine minutes.

A stoppage came for Benning to receive treatment after he stayed down following a corner from the home right, although the defender was passed fit to play on.

The next time they went forward, the Mariners took the lead. Turi intercepted a loose pass and made progress into the penalty area before playing the ball back to AMALUZOR, who gave goalkeeper Elyh Harrison no chance with a superb, first-time finish.

Another attacking opportunity came soon afterwards when Khouri was fouled to the left of the box but they were unable to take advantage as Staunton’s low free kick was dealt with.

Staunton won a corner on the left as Town continued to come forward and it eventually led to Harrison diving to make a great save from Turi, tipping the ball around his post for another corner, which was cleared.

Tom Anderson saw the yellow card for a shirt-pull on Walker on 26 minutes and this time, it led to an even better opportunity for the hosts to double their lead as Staunton’s free kick broke for Burns and his strike was adjudged to have been blocked by the arm of Taylor Perry. The referee gave a penalty but Walker could not convert it as Harrison dived to keep his spot-kick out.

Shrewsbury were yet to make an impression in front of goal as the half-hour mark passed but they won a corner on the left four minutes later. Pym punched Sang’s flag-kick away for a throw-in.

Burns then got to a Sam Clucas corner from the right to head it away, before a foul by Warren gave the visitors a free kick 30 yards from goal. Sang’s shot was comfortable for Pym, who got down to make a stop.

After the Mariners had dominated the first 30 minutes, the away side were coming into the game as half-time approached, albeit without causing serious problems for Pym and his defence.

Four added minutes were played at the end of the half, with Town now back on the attack as they looked for a second goal before the break.

And they almost had it after a flowing move which started with Walker finding Staunton on the left. He made progress before linking up with Burns and his pull-back found its way to Walker but the former Bradford City man could only fire over the bar.

That proved to be the final opportunity of the first half, with Town taking a single-goal advantage into the dressing rooms at the interval.

SECOND HALF

Rodgers replaced Lavelle before the restart as the Mariners made their first change and an early foul on Khouri saw Clucas become the latest to receive a yellow card.

Staunton’s free kick from the left was cleared but the hosts retained possession and a foul on Warren brought another free kick, this time on the right. Staunton found Warren and his header had to be tipped over the bar by Harrison.

Town were on top again in the early stages of the half and five minutes in, they found their second goal. A good move down the left led to Warren playing a low cross towards the near post, where GARDNER met it to flick a neat finish past the keeper.

More neat, flowing football led to a Grimsby corner on the left after Walker and Burns linked up. It produced another one as the hosts sought a third goal but when the ball came back to Walker, his powerful effort from a narrow angle flew off-target.

Staunton cleared a cross from Clucas at the other end after Walker had shown great tenacity to win the ball and keep it in play.

Shrewsbury had offered little as an attacking force overall but they were suddenly back in the contest on 64 minutes, when a cross from the right was pulled back for SANG and his first-time shot looped over Pym and into the far corner of his net.

Walker won a corner at the other end as Town immediately aimed to restore their two-goal advantage but when it eventually fell for Burns on the edge of the box, his volley was blocked.

John Marquis and Anthony Scully replaced Callum Stewart and Clucas as the visitors sensed the tide may be turning in their favour.

But the Mariners were still looking to add to their lead and a corner from the left was just too high for Warren to connect with the ball at the far post.

Amaluzor was unable to turn a Burns cross towards goal but the ball was put behind for another corner, which was headed away.

Town continued to create chances and Burns picked Amaluzor out with a low cross from the left but he could not take the opportunity.

Green, Kabia and Brown were sent on in place of Walker, Gardner and Burns for the hosts with 12 minutes to go and two of the substitutes combined soon afterwards, as Green burst through the middle before finding Brown on the left. He flashed a low ball across the six-yard line but nobody in black and white could get on the end of it.

Luca Hoole became the latest to be booked after a foul on Khouri, before Pym showed great awareness to come off his line and beat Lloyd to a through-ball.

Alex Gilliead and Tommy McDermott replaced Hoole and Perry for Shrewsbury with six minutes to go and soon afterwards, Scully got on the end of a Benning cross from the left but could not turn it towards goal.

Staunton won a corner at the other end on 89 minutes and after being played short by Brown, it turned into a throw-in as Town aimed to manage what was left of the game.

And they were given the opportunity to make sure of the victory when they were given their second penalty of the evening as Warren went down under contact from George Nurse. This time, KABIA stepped up and made no mistake from the spot to score his third goal in three games for the club.

Town saw out the remainder of the five added minutes to seal their place in Wednesday evening’s draw for round two, with Pym saving a late header from Lloyd to keep the score at 3-1.
Next up is a return to league action when the Mariners host Newport County at Blundell Park on Saturday.

Town: Pym, Warren, Tharme, Lavelle (Rodgers, 46), Staunton, Turi, Khouri, Burns (Brown, 78), Walker (Green, 78), Amaluzor, Gardner (Kabia, 78)
Subs not used: Auton, Sweeney, McEachran, Vernam, Onoh

UTM