Town Win Cup Thriller

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 08/11/2026

GRIMSBY eventually beat Stafford Rangers in a game they were never winning until the latter stages of a penalty shootout. The Mariners were 2-0 down at half-time before levelling the score and forcing extra time. The Mariners fell behind again at the start of the additional 30 minutes.

Once more, Town dug deep to level against a side four levels above them, but the part-timers hung on to take the game to penalties. Harvey Cartwright was the hero during the shootout, saving three of five Stafford penalties. Town could afford to miss one when Walker hit the bar, and won a penalty to spare as the rest of the Grimsby takers all found the back of the net, and Grimsby walked away 3-2 winners.

David Artell rested four experienced players to give some lesser-used squad players a chance in the cup game. Harvey Cartwright, Shelton, Fin Cartwright and Andrews came in for Pym, Green, Walker and Cook.

The non-leaguers made the perfect start when Town's defence was caught asleep, and Birch picked out Mason, who beat Cartwright on his near post. Town didn't threaten the goal for 30 minutes when Morgan hit the base of the post. Grimsby had further chances to level the game, but Stafford always looked dangerous on the break. Disaster then struck when Cartwright made a save from Gomes, but Birch was quickest to react and scored with the follow-up for a sensational 2-0 half-time lead for the home side and the neutrals hoping for a giant-killing on TV.

Artell made two changes at the start of the second half. Walker and Amaluzor replaced Fin Cartwright and Vernam. Harvey Cartwright then made a good save from Birch to prevent Stafford from going 3-0 up. Town looked short of ideas and the game looked to be going away from them, but they dug deep, and Rodgers headed home their opener with 16 minutes left from a Morgan free kick. Morgan repeated the favour with a second free kick two minutes later that found Kacurri to level the game. Suddenly Grimsby were favourites, but needed Cartwright again to tip a Horan effort over, which would have been a fairytale winner for Stafford.

The extra 30 minutes on paper should favour the professional side, but Stafford had other ideas and started the period brilliantly, with Gomes providing a pass to Mason from a ball which had not been cleared from a long throw-in. Town levelled the game near the end of the first period od extra time, with Turi lifting the ball over the 'keeper tp make it 3-3.

Turi and McJannet both had chances to win the game, but it ended 3-3 and went to penalties. Cartwright saved the first spot kick before Walker hit the crossbar with the score still 0-0. Cook, Doyle and Amaluzor all scored to make the score 3-2, with Cartwright saving the 1st, 3rd and 5th penalties.

It was far closer than it should have been, but Grimsby did what they had to do when it was required, and eventually won a close race by a short head to go into the draw for Round 2. Stafford were brilliant opponents and can be proud of their performance despite eventually losing the game.

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