Grimsby Town 1 Morecambe 1 (aet)

Morecambe win 4-3 on penalties

MORECAMBE claimed the scalp of League Two leaders Grimsby Town to belie talk of the LDV Vans Trophy being a minor competition.

The Shrimps saw off the side which made football mascot Harry the Haddock famous on penalties after a thrilling clash in Cleethorpes.

Some people say the LDV is a competition with little interest but on a night of shocks with the likes of Nottingham Forest, Chester, Darlington and Bury crashing out to Nationwide Conference opposition this result was one that caught the eye.

Grimsby are flying under their boss Russell Slade and less than a month ago dumped Tottenham Hotspur out of the Carling Cup, but their dreams of a big payday were ended when Tony Crane missed the vital spot-kick to send the Conference side through after the game had finished 1-1 after extra-time.

Shaun Gray, Gary Hunter, Danny Carlton and Johnathon Smith were successful from the spot for Morecambe.

Sean O'Connor should have put Morecambe ahead early in the game but his shot was saved by Steve Mildenhall and he headed the rebound past the post.

Morecambe took the lead in first-half stoppage-time when Chris Blackburn crossed from the right and Paul Lloyd hooked home from 12 yards.

It was only the second time in 22 games that the not so merry Mariners had conceded a goal in the first half of a game.

But Grimsby substitute Paul Ashton equalised after 66 minutes when his cross from the right beat keeper Ryan Robinson, who had received lengthy treatment a few minutes earlier, and finished in the top corner.

Extra-time couldn't produce a winner but Morecambe stayed cool for the spot kicks.

Morecambe: Robinson, Blackburn, Bentley, Kempson, Howard (Gray 69), Hunter, Lloyd, Smith, Stringfellow, Dodgson (Perkins 102), O'Connor (Carlton 58). Subs (not used): Twiss, Davies.

Reeree: Darren Drysdale (Lincolnshire).

Attendance:1,131