Callum Storr’s 94th-minute winner sent our youth team into the second round of the FA Youth Cup as they came from behind to secure an away victory over Mansfield Town.

After an open first half at the One Call Stadium, Neil Woods’ side trailed at the break to Louis Spink’s goal for the hosts.

But Henry Brown brought them level two minutes after the restart and from then, it was the Young Mariners who looked the more likely to go on and win the tie.

Town missed chances to complete the turnaround and as the clock ticked beyond the 90-minute mark, it looked like extra time would be required to split the teams.

But the visitors had other ideas and as they kept battling, their reward came when Storr secured their place in round two.

Town and Mansfield both play in the Youth Alliance North division and are also used to facing each other in knockout action, having met in the northern area semi-final of last season’s Youth Alliance Cup. The Young Mariners prevailed on penalties on that occasion, following a goalless draw at the Bradley Football Development Centre.

Neither goalkeeper was tested in a quiet opening to the game, although Grimsby were first to settle and looked comfortable and confident in possession.

Town’s Seb Auton was the first stopper to be called into action when he dived to push a low, long-range effort from Louis Spink away for a corner, then Alfie Foy did well to hold off Callum Johnson and see the ball out for a goal kick when the hosts next went forward.

Jack Collins fired over the bar from Town’s first opportunity, before a low Collins cross was put behind for a corner before it could reach Brown, whose delivery from the flag was headed clear.
Another corner came at the other end following a quick break down the Mansfield right, although it did not lead to a chance in front of goal.

Instead, the deadlock was broken on 27 minutes and it was the home side who took the lead. Che Whitman-Brown got to the by-line on the left and sent a cross over for SPINK, whose first-time finish at the near post beat Auton as the ball flew across goal and into the net.

A free kick from Charlie Hatton was cleared as Town aimed to respond but after claiming the advantage, the hosts were now on top and looking for a second goal.

Whitman-Brown found Johnson with a great ball into the box from deep on the left but the away defence recovered to crowd the winger out and Auton gathered.

Grayson Giles saw an attempt blocked at the other end, before Brown did well to turn and create an opening inside the penalty area, only to be denied by good defending from Elliot Hartmann.

Another Brown corner on 42 minutes led to a double save from home keeper Lincoln Woolf, who kept out the initial header and then got back up to block Giles’ rebound at his near post, with the Young Mariners looking for an equaliser ahead of half-time.

Elliott Smith then went close soon afterwards after a low cross from Giles eventually fell for him but again, Woolf made a good save.

And after the half moved into stoppage time, Auton was called upon once again when Dan Organ sent a powerful drive towards goal. The keeper was equal to it though, diving to push the ball away from goal and ensure Town’s deficit remained at one goal going into the break.

SECOND HALF

No changes were made over the interval and after a bright opening, Town were level within two minutes of the restart. A low ball from the right found Brown and he made no mistake with a powerful strike from close range.

Brown went close to completing the turnaround soon afterwards when he was narrowly off-target from the edge of the box.

The away pressure continued when a right-wing corner led to another one, although this time, the danger was eventually cleared.

Storr did well to get to a Hartmann cross first and head clear as Mansfield threatened for the first time in the second half, then a stoppage came for Auton to receive treatment after a collision with Organ.

Charlie Carrick replaced Hatton in Town’s first substitution on 61 minutes, with Mansfield also making their first change at the same time. Giles saw a strike deflect away from goal for a corner, then Brown did well to turn and win a free kick on the Grimsby right. The low delivery from it fell for Storr but Woolf got down to stop his shot.

Corey Foster replaced Mamadu Jalloh for the visitors on 68 minutes and a Mansfield corner five minutes later was comfortably caught by Auton.

Woolf got down to stop a low strike from Brown at the other end after he had been picked out by Giles, then Carlo Midwinter came on for Smith in Town’s latest change.

Giles was the latest to force keeper Woolf into action as he saved the striker’s low shot moments later and the game remained firmly in the balance as the clock ticked past the 80-minute mark.
Town were continuing to create good chances and the latest saw Midwinter volley wide from a Collins cross.

Jayden Chambers-Morgan then lifted an effort over the bar from 20 yards at the other end, with both sides aiming to settle the contest inside the 90 minutes and avoid the need for extra time.

Brown fired off-target from a similar distance after good play by Giles, before Auton produced a great save to deny Ollie Taylor and then react to keep Organ out from the rebound.

The game was moving from end to end at pace and Brown came close to winning it for Town when his low strike was blocked on the line by Lucas Ellis with four minutes to go.

Woolf caught a free kick from Foy on the left as the game moved into added time, then Mansfield won a corner on their right and it was headed behind for another one. This time, the ball was eventually headed through to Auton.

But just as it looked like a further half-hour would be required, the Young Mariners grabbed the winning goal in the fourth minute of added time. A corner from the right was not dealt with and after a scramble, STORR pounced to fire into the roof of the net from close range.

Mansfield poured forward in a final attempt to keep themselves in the competition but only seconds remained before the referee’s whistle confirmed Town’ place in the second round.
Attention now turns back to the league programme and a trip to face Blackpool.

Town: Seb Auton, Callum Storr, Alex Graham, Alfie Foy, Finley Axcell, Charlie Hatton (Charlie Carrick, 61), Jack Collins, Elliott Smith (Carlo Midwinter, 76), Grayson Giles, Henry Brown, Mamadu Jalloh (Corey Foster, 68)
Subs not used: Tom Rennardson, Hayden Rogers, Kristian Catchpole, Harvey Booth