Our Young Mariners beat Salford City at Blundell Park to set up a home FA Youth Cup third round tie against West Ham United.

Henry Brown and Tom Rennardson were both on-target for Neil Woods’ side, who followed up their first-round victory over Mansfield Town with another excellent win.

Brown struck directly from a corner to give Town the lead but Salford responded through William Wright to send the teams in level at half-time.

The visitors were forced to play the second 45 minutes with 10 men after defender Marshall Heys was sent off for two bookable offences in first-half stoppage time and Grimsby took full advantage, as Rennardson reclaimed the advantage and Axcell gave them a two-goal cushion.

Bruno Padovani ensured a nervy finish as he pulled a goal back for Salford but the hosts saw the remainder of the game out to claim the prize of a chance to test themselves against the Premier League youngsters in the next round.

Rennardson replaced Alfie Foy in the only change to the Town XI that began the first-round tie at Mansfield earlier this month, while Callum Storr and Brown were both included after starting for the first team in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy clash at Chesterfield on Tuesday.

Salford, like the Young Mariners, are part of the EFL Youth Alliance North division and came into the game four places and two points behind their opponents in the league table, although the Ammies had played a game fewer.

And after the draw for the third round was made earlier in the day, both sides knew that a home clash with the Hammers would be the reward for winning the game.

A Grayson Giles cross from the right was deflected through to goalkeeper Isaac Jackson-Peat as the hosts were first to attack, then a quickly-taken throw-in found Elliot Smith inside the penalty area but he was crowded out and could not work an opening for a shot.

Smith went on to win the game’s first corner on 10 minutes and from it, Town took the lead, as Brown’s delivery from the left beat the reach of Jackson-Peat and curled into the net at the far post.

A cross from Luke Simmons on the Salford left sailed out for a goal kick as the visitors aimed to respond, then Smith won another corner at the other end but this time, Brown’s ball from the flag landed on the roof of the net.

Storr headed clear from an Alfie Bairstow free kick on 18 minutes but soon afterwards, the away side were level. Padovani made progress through the middle and played the ball to WRIGHT, who finished neatly from inside the box.

Keeper Seb Auton had to tip the ball over his bar for a corner from a ricochet as Salford aimed to complete the turnaround, although the flag-kick was dealt with well by the Town defence.

A foul on Rennardson earned the away side’s Ruben Butt the first yellow card of the evening and after Charlie Hatton’s free kick from the left was only half-cleared, Alex Graham’s strike took a deflection for a corner.

Great skill by Brown saw him chip the ball through for Giles inside the box soon afterwards but Jackson-Peat saved the striker’s low effort and defender Alexander Nnadede got to the rebound first.

Heys picked up the first of his yellow cards for unfairly stopping a promising run by Town’s Jack Collins but the defender recovered to head Hatton’s free kick away.

A good challenge then stopped Brown after Giles had pulled the ball back for him as the first half moved into two minutes of added time.

And soon afterwards, the visitors were reduced to 10 men when Heys was shown a second yellow card for a foul which stopped a Town break from near the halfway line. The resulting free kick caused problems inside the Salford box but was eventually cleared.

That proved to be the last action of the half, with the scores still level at the break.

SECOND HALF

Bradley Mundy replaced Butt for Salford before the restart and they had the first opportunity when Kyrell Malcolm drew a foul from Axcell on the away left. Bairstow’s free kick curled over the bar at the far post.

Town’s first chance of the second half came soon afterwards and saw them grab the advantage back, as Rennardson hit a low strike from the edge of the box and Jackson-Peat could not keep it out, despite getting a hand to the ball.

A shot from Giles was blocked as the Young Mariners aimed to extend their lead and they kept the pressure on with two corners in quick succession but were unable to test Jackson-Peat from them.

Padovani hit the Town wall from a 30-yard free kick at the other end, before Wright did well to work his way into the box from the away right but could not hit the target from a narrow angle.

Great work by Giles saw him win the ball in a challenge near the corner flag and cut back across the penalty area to create Grimsby’s next chance but again, the angle proved too tight and his shot hit the side-netting at the near post.

Giles was becoming increasingly influential and more good play just after the hour saw him beat Jackson-Peat to the ball, although his pull-back was cleared for a corner.

A Hatton free kick was also dealt with by the Salford defence and Malcolm went on to win a corner at the other end, which Smith headed clear.

Harry Showman replaced Billy Midgley in the away side’s second change, then a Hatton free kick soon afterwards led to a corner on the Town right. And it produced a third goal for the hosts, as after the ball was initially played short from the flag, Brown’s sweet ball headed goalwards.

Giles had an opportunity to make it 4-1 on 73 minutes when an excellent move led to Smith sending a low cross over from the right, although the striker’s first-time effort went over the bar.

Jackson-Peat denied Giles with a good block moments later as the Young Mariners continued to threaten, before Bairstow headed over the bar from a Salford corner.

Charlie Carrick replaced Hatton on 77 minutes and Giles was again denied by the keeper two minutes later. as he got down to make a good save.

Corey Foster came on for Rennardson on 82 minutes but Salford ensured a nervy finish for the Town players and fans as they pulled a goal back with five minutes to go. A cross from the right found its way through to the unmarked Padovani and he beat Auton with a low finish.

A minimum of four added minutes gave Salford further opportunity to find an unlikely equaliser and send the tie to extra time but Town managed the remainder of the contest well to seal a deserved place in the third round and an opportunity to face top-level opposition at Blundell Park.

Before then, attention will turn back to the Youth Alliance league programme, starting with a home game against Accrington Stanley next week.