In Pictures: Grimsby Town fans in Trafalgar Square ahead of the FA Trophy final

LET'S face it; most of us at times have our moans about living in Grimsby.

And yes, there are things that certainly need changing, with the job creation of being at the top of many people's wish list. Yet on the other hand, we've got much to be thankful for. To begin with are the numerous parks and open spaces. From the Duke of York Gardens to People's Park, Weelsby Woods to Capes Recreation Ground, Grimsby is full of green areas that other towns can only envy – believe me, I've seen them! Even our hospital and educational Institute are surrounded (at least at the present so far as the former is concerned!) by greenery, while the approach to Top Town along Bargate sees trees on either side which help mask any potential urban eyesores.

Then on our doorstep is the seaside resort of Cleethorpes, with its mixture of traditional leisure attractions and the more natural features associated with the coast. Not surprisingly, individuals want to live there, as witness the growth of flats along the front.

They might not be affordable for most of us, but that isn't the same so far as other local property is concerned. Unlike in many parts of the country, a couple on an average income can consider buying a home of their own.

This means they're much more likely to stay in the area, rather than seeking pastures new. Lowish house prices also mean that someone coming from elsewhere gets more for their money, an incentive for businesses needing to attract specialist labour not everyone has the skills for.

"It's Grim In Grimsby!" was the tag line for an exhibition at the Fishing Heritage Centre in the 2000s, referring to our town's legendary founder. But that's the only grim part of us!

GRAB some great and interesting items at the monthly farmers' market in Victoria Street, Grimsby.

The market, held on the third Friday of each month, includes local favourites as well as some unique tastes.

One of the stalls attending is OsLinc, which will be selling its ostrich burgers and steaks from its Lincolnshire farm.

North East Lincolnshire Council's markets manager, Linda Bulbeck, said: "The farmers' market has gone from strength to strength since moving from its original position at the Bull Ring to the pedestrianised area of Victoria Street.

"Last year we filled every stall as Grimsby's reputation of being an excellent place to trade was passed from trader to trader. Traders tell us that the Grimsby Farmers' Market is their busiest.

"We are very selective of who trades on the market to ensure that we maintain the essence of a farmers' market.

"I think it has grown even more popular over time because our customers are looking for quality, taste and knowledge of the product and the best ways of cooking it, all which you can get from the market.

"They are also good for the local economy because there is a knock-on spend in other shops on the days it operates, they provide an outlet for local produce, spurring local value-added start-ups and expansions and they reinforce local job and business networks, maintaining local employment."

PARENTS are being urged to take up a potentially life-saving offer from a Grimsby businessman.

Ken McQuoid, the owner of Kensway Blinds, is giving away safety clips – a simple device that could prevent a child from being strangled by the chord on their own window blinds.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has revealed that since 1999 26 children have died as a result of such accidents– half of which happened since the start of 2010.

Ken's campaign follows the death of two-year-old Alexandra Hoegh, who was found hanging from a window blind cord next to her cot.

The daughter of shipping tycoon Morten Hoegh – one of the UK's richest men – was found suspended from the cord of a roller blind on the top floor of the family's £12 million, five-storey home in West London.

Ken said: "The death of the little girl is a tragic example of the risks of cords to young children. Despite all the money the father had, a cheap and effective plastic clip could have prevented this sad event from occurring.

"I want to make more people aware of this potential danger in the home.

"Many people have blinds and it doesn't take a child long to get themselves in a dangerous position. The safety clips are a simple and easy fix to prevent the danger to children."

A RoSPA spokesman said the society is keen to help secure a voluntary agreement among manufacturers and retailers that will eventually see an end to looped blind cords altogether.

He added: "In the meantime, we encourage parents and carers to fit blinds with some form of safety device such as a chain/cord-break connector, chain/cord tidy or cleat.

"A loop which hangs at waist height for an adult could slip around the neck of a young child if he or she falls.

"Or, if the loop is at floor level, it could become wrapped around the neck of a baby who is crawling. There have also been cases in which babies have been accidentally strangled by cord loops hanging into their cots.

"RoSPA's advice is to not place a child's cot, bed, playpen or highchair near a window and only install blinds that do not have a cord, especially in a child's bedroom.

"RoSPA does not recommend that cords are cut, even as a short-term solution.

"It is advisable that any action taken on the blind cord is a permanent one which will take the cord out of reach of children."

Find out more

To receive two free clips, visit Kensway Blinds, on Pasture Street, Grimsby, and additional clips can be purchased at a minimal price, if needed.

OH WHAT fun they had but did it really turn out bad...

The sounds of the 1980s will resurrect at Wintringham Comprehensive's Class of '89 reunion.

Former pupils Clare O'Connell (nee West), Esmee Kimlim (nee Green), Sally Wilkinson (nee Pycroft) and Larissa Wainman want their year to join them in a night of reminiscing.

Organised in the year they turn 40, it will be 24 years since the final school bell rang.

And Clare, a mother-of-two and trained music teacher, hopes no one will play truant from the bash.

She said: "Turning 40 is a real milestone and it got me thinking about school and how I hadn't seen people in 24 years and how lovely it would be to see everyone again.

"This is a great excuse for a party and a good natter. We want everyone to come."

Fond memories of permed hair, blue mascarra and pink lipstick have helped rekindle friendships since the ladies met up to organise the reunion.

Sally, a paralegal at Wilkin and Chapman Solicitors and mother-of-two, said: "The years have flown by. I cannot believe it has been 24 years – I can still remember the smell of the school!

"From the first moment we met again there was no awkwardness we just picked up where we left off. We could have chatted all night.

"I loved school, I remember wishing the holidays away. I wanted to go back to school, I never had days off. We had so much fun together."

The reunion, with buffet, will be held at the Empire Pub, Runswick Road, Grimsby, on Saturday, May 4.

Tickets, priced £5 each, are available from Wintringham Reunion, 9 Florence Street, Grimsby, DN32 0JH. Cash or cheque made payable to C O'Connell or L Wainman.

We want to hear your memories of school days. Post on this story, and e-mail bygones@grimsbytelegraph.co.uk with your photos.

AN AWARD-winning Wolds community group is urging others to follow in their footsteps by snapping up a grant of up to £500 from the council.

Volunteers with the Market Rasen Station Adoption Group are getting behind a West Lindsey District Council drive to encourage more groups to apply for grants to help with their community work.

The move came as WLDC announced it is relaunching the Community Action and Volunteering fund (CAV), under a new name – the Community Chest fund – and with more cash up for grabs.

Martin Barnard, the secretary and treasurer of the Market Rasen Station Adoption Group, said he was "delighted" the grant had made it possible to support a local art group and make a real difference to the look and feel of the station, where murals adorn the platforms.

He said: "We were delighted with how easy it was to apply and how smooth the process was.

"It was so straightforward and beneficial, we have already applied for a further grant."

Launched in 2012-13, the CAV fund has already supported 1,200 volunteers and helped more than 100 projects, ranging from village notice boards, to sports kits, youth activities and community gardens. Previously grants of £250 were available, but this has now gone up to £500.

Director of communities and localism Rachel North said: "The launch of the Community Chest and the increase in the funds available will hopefully be able to help a lot more groups in our area."

A celebration event will be held on Tuesday, April 16, to showcase the projects that have already received funding and applaud their achievements.

Find out more

The celebration event will be held in Glentworth Village Hall at 6.30pm and booking by Monday, April 8, is essential as places are limited.

Those who would like attend should call 01529 301970 or email cav@communitylincs.com, which is also the number to call if you wish to apply for a grant.

In Pictures: Grimsby Town v Wrexham - Match Gallery 3

In Pictures: Grimsby Town v Wrexham - Match Gallery 2

In Pictures: Grimsby Town v Wrexham - Match Gallery 1

In Pictures: Grimsby Town fans in Wembley Stadium

In Pictures: Grimsby Town fans outside Wembley

A PENALTY shoot-out seemed a fair bet from the off – and so it proved.

Driving down to Wembley yesterday morning, the general consensus was that this clash could go all the way.

The two previous encounters between Town and Wrexham this campaign have yielded just one goal – in the Mariners' favour. And it turned out to be another tight affair, this time on neutral ground.

But, as much as it pains me to say, the FA Trophy went to the better side on the day.

For large sections of the first-half and extra-time, the Welsh side monopolised possession and rained shots down on James McKeown's goal.

In fact, if it wasn't for the Town keeper's remarkable reflexes, the match wouldn't have made it to penalties at all.

A clever switch in strategy from Mariners bosses Rob Scott and Paul Hurst just before the hour mark saw their side enjoy 15 minutes in the ascendancy.

But once Andy Cook had blasted Town in front, it was all Wrexham again for the closing stages of normal time, and the 30 minutes that followed.

And when it came to the dreaded shoot-out, the Red Dragons were deadly, converting all four of their efforts. In contrast, the Mariners looked spent as Sam Hatton and Richard Brodie both missed the target – and the spoils deservedly went to Wrexham.

In Pictures: Grimsby Town v Wrexham - Match Gallery 3

In Pictures: Grimsby Town v Wrexham - Match Gallery 2

In Pictures: Grimsby Town v Wrexham - Match Gallery 1

In Pictures: Grimsby Town fans in Wembley Stadium

In Pictures: Grimsby Town fans outside Wembley

Earlier, it had all seemed so promising for those thousands of supporters who had travelled down from North East Lincolnshire.

A freezing windy day outside the stadium wasn't going to prevent both sets of fans from enjoying their big day out. And the fun continued from Wembley Way into the ground itself where the crowd totalling more than 35,000 made the most of their 'day in the sun'.

Even a streaker, and a minor scuffle that resulted in a few people being ejected from the ground, couldn't dampen what was a terrific occasion for the two clubs and their loyal fans.

For the Mariners, it was the fourth visit to the home of English football in 15 years, while the Red Dragons were making their first ever trip.

With an almost perfect, 50-50 split between the rival fans, it made for a raucous pre-match atmosphere.

And the decibel level went up a notch or ten as the teams walked out on to the hallowed turf, with Scott and Hurst leading their players.

Everyone in attendance already knew that fans favourite Liam Hearn wasn't going to be amongst that match-day squad, but hopes remained high of a positive outcome against such closely-matched rivals.

The managerial duo joined in the national anthem and pre kick-off huddle as the focus turned to the real business of the afternoon.

And, once the game had begun, my heart was in my mouth when Mariners skipper Craig Disley lunged in two-footed on his opposite number Dean Keates.

The midfielder survived and so did Town as a cagey first-half yielded no shots on target at either end. The clash came to life after the break as the Mariners took and then relinquished the lead.

From that point on, Scott and Hurst's men were looking for a breakaway winner as Andy Morrell's side took control.

It never came, but Town's battlers should be remembered for the 120 minutes of all-out effort across Wembley's turf, not the spot-kick misses that ultimately decided affairs.

They gave everything, roared on by 17,000 Mariners fans, and cannot be questioned for that.

GRIMSBY Town's players have to ensure they are back at Wembley on May 5 to experience the winning feeling – and clinch a Football League return.

That's the message from goalkeeper James McKeown and centre-half Shaun Pearson following the Mariners' FA Trophy final defeat yesterday.

It was penalty shoot-out despair for Town and their 17,000 fans at the home of English football.

But the team-mates agree that they can learn from that disappointment and use it to their advantage in the Blue Square Bet Premier play-off final.

"We need to be back there," said McKeown, who was the Telegraph's man-of-the-match. "From what we've put in this season, we can't just fall away now.

"We need to use this experience. I know it's a cliché but we need to draw on the way we feel now, however bad we feel as individuals and as a team.

"We need to make sure we're back at Wembley in four or five weeks and then have the opposite feeling – how Wrexham are feeling now.

"I look around our dressing room and I think we can do it. Everyone can see how bad a run we've been on, it's five games now without a win, but I'm sure some of our experienced players and the gaffers have been on worse runs when they were players.

"You have to stick together and show the experience, and it's a learning curve for the ones that haven't experienced it."

The keeper, who made a string of superb saves to keep Town in the final, was unable to prevent any of Wrexham's four shoot-out kicks from hitting the back of the net.

In Pictures: Grimsby Town v Wrexham - Match Gallery 3

In Pictures: Grimsby Town v Wrexham - Match Gallery 2

In Pictures: Grimsby Town v Wrexham - Match Gallery 1

In Pictures: Grimsby Town fans in Wembley Stadium

In Pictures: Grimsby Town fans outside Wembley

He added: "Given the occasion and the game, that's maybe as well as I've played, but it's no consolation because we lost. They've probably been the better team in terms of going out to win the game but I think we defended as a team how we've defended all the season.

"We've put our bodies on the line – everyone, whether it's Shaun (Pearson) making a block or our left-winger putting a foot in, has defended.

"Obviously it is disappointing but ultimately there's not much you can do when it goes to penalties and it's 50-50 – there isn't any blame attached to anyone."

Town centre-half Pearson was equally determined to put things rights – by achieving promotion to League Two at the end of the campaign.

"The support was clear to see, and to play another big club in the final and to have such a big crowd there was fantastic," he said. "It was a special moment to come out to such a roar."

"Personally, the biggest crowd I've played in front of was less than 7,000, so to come out to something like that was ever so special. It's just a shame that we couldn't make it more special for them.

"We've got two options – we can either feel sorry for ourselves and the season can pitter away, or it's down to us to get ready for Tuesday."

The former Boston United man continued: "People say 'you've got to pick yourselves up' but I don't see any bigger inspiration other than to go back to Wembley to win a play-off final.

"No matter how everyone is feeling now, if we go back and win the play-off final I'm sure that will be a better feeling – because becoming a Football League player is something some of our lads have never experienced, including myself.

"For the lads that have been there, no doubt it will be just as good a feeling for them to get back.

"I'm not sure if it (Wrexham's equaliser) was a penalty. If our player had done the same I would have been pleased – I think he's won it rather than been fouled, but I'd have to see it back."

A MOTHER overdosed on amphetamines and died on the floor of a friend's flat after her life spiraled downhill following the murder of the "love of her life".

Tracey Reynolds died, aged 36, after taking two grams of amphetamine while partying with two friends and partner Paul Selby at a flat in Wellowgate on August 22 last year, an inquest heard.

Coroner Paul Kelly recorded that her death was the result of an accidental overdose of non-prescription drugs, at the hearing at Cleethorpes Town Hall.

She left behind son Callum Stembridge, 17, and mum Anne Eaton, 56, of Inchmery Road, Grimsby, who said Tracey was someone who always made everyone laugh.

However, Anne also said Tracey, of Robert Pearson Mews, had a hard life, which took a turn for the worse after the love of her life Michael Smith was stabbed at 2.05am on New Year's Day, 2005, and died in hospital on January 2.

"Smithy", as Tracey called him, was stabbed at a party on Newsham Drive, Grimsby, by David Burns, who was sentenced to life in prison for murder at Hull Crown Court in May that year.

Anne said: "Tracey had a lot of bad things happen to her and it's not an excuse because not everyone turns to drugs, but whenever she stopped something would happen and she would start again.

"She had a few bad boyfriends but things started to look up when she met Smithy – he was great with Callum and they were going to make a life together.

"They had been an item for about three years, but when he was murdered that's when her life started to really go downhill."

Anne said she had a suspicion her daughter took drugs, but she held down a job, always did her make-up and looked presentable, and like most parents, she wanted to see her in the best light.

"I knew for a long time, but she would always deny it and I wanted to believe her," Anne said.

Since the tragedy of her daughter's death, Anne has wanted to warn others of the dangers of amphetamine use – which many don't feel are as dangerous as substances such as heroin.

"I've heard people say that amphetamine can't kill you but it can – it killed my daughter," she said. "If this story can prevent someone else dying, then Tracey's death won't have been in vain."

Tracey's stepfather Bill Eaton, 63, who she called Pops, described her as "a lovely bubbly person".

Son Callum simply said: "I loved her and I miss her every day."

Anne added: "I know she wasn't perfect. She was someone who made you laugh and made you cry, but she would help anyone if she could.

"People think that druggies are just down-and-outs, but Tracey was always presentable, kept down a job and she loved me, Bill and Callum – and we loved her.

"Losing a child is every parent's worst nightmare and I can't even go into town anymore because it is where we always used to bump into each other.

"I try to imagine she is somewhere else rather than dead but not a day goes by when I don't think of her.

"I'd like to thank the ambulance crew who tried their best to revive her and the police for all their investigations and the way they have treated our family."

RESIDENTS expressed mixed reactions following their first glimpse at designs for a 400-home development off Humberston Avenue.

Illustrations of initial plans for the 64-acre Millennium Park housing development were revealed at a consultation at Humberston Country Club on Saturday.

Landowner Ross Hewson said feedback from the event will be used to hone the designs before a planning application is submitted in the "near future".

He added: "The designs we have been displaying today are not set in stone and we are looking for both positive and negative feedback to help us improve upon them."

Colin Kinnaird, who has lived in the Avenue for 35 years, said: "I think what they are proposing is a nice-looking development.

"If they stick to something along the lines of what they are proposing at the moment, it is probably going to be the best we can get."

Michael King, who has lived in the Avenue for 12 years, added: "I don't think the development will really benefit us, but I also don't think it will be detrimental.

"I am pleasantly surprised by the plans; they are a lot better than I expected.

"I had some concerns about flooding, but the developers I have spoken to today have alleviated those."

The proposed development currently includes detached and semi-detached homes with small gardens and shared allotment spaces.

Out of the 65 acres, 30 would be safeguarded for the building of a new school and for use as open space, including 21 acres for outdoor activities for young people.

However, a concerned resident, who lives in Holton-le-Clay, said these promises are just being used to push the development through.

She said: "It's all very well the developers promising all these different benefits to the community, but at the end of the day they're only doing that because they want to build the homes and make money.

"We often go for walks on this site and it would be such a shame to see the public footpaths altered."

Planning consultant Andy Gutherson said it is important to listen to the views of all residents.

He added: "We carried out an initial consultation in October which outlined our basic principles for the site. This is the first time we have displayed a proposed layout and indicative drawings of the type of houses we would be building.

"We are interested in any feedback from the public and it will be taken into account before a formal planning application is submitted."

Many of residents who are opposing the development are concerned about the number of separate planning applications being submitted for the Humberston area.

Keystone Development's 400-home plan for the Avenue has been resubmitted after being rejected last year, and there are also plans to develop the golf course at the Country Club.

Another resident, who has lived in Humberston Avenue for 30 years but did not wish to be named, added: "My concern is that this development could run into the one at the golf course."

THE year is 1998.

A scattering of hanging baskets sway in the seaside breeze.

The newly founded Cleethorpes In Bloom team, Bob Callison, Jeff Blanchard, Alan Fletcher and Mike Sleight dust off their muddy gloves and look up to admire their handy work.

It was a start, at least.

But it was going to take a lot more. They needed people, money and faith. Well, at least they had one, they sighed.

"It was an uphill struggle," said Bob.

"We knocked on everyone's doors but a lot of people had been there, done that and got the T-shirt. It hadn't worked so far, why were we any different?"

But Bob and the boys knew they were on to something special and they weren't about to give up now.

With just £39 in their pocket – donated by the Grimsby Telegraph – they shyly entered the Yorkshire In Bloom coastal resort category.

Up against the likes of Scarborough and Whitby, over the years they took home a smattering of disappointing fourth, fifth and sixth places.

Bob continued: "Cleethorpes was still looking a bit drab. The headline in the Grimsby Telegraph read Cleethorpes In Gloom! You were right to do that, though.

"We had an attractive seafront, but we still needed more community input. There were no features or artwork. But then, slowly, people started to pull together.

"We realised there were people out there who wanted to see Cleethorpes succeed and we went from strength to strength."

Convinced they could do better, they listened intently to the judge's comments until finally they were awarded the Best Improved.

It was a sign of things to come and soon they held the shared title for Best Tourist Resort with Scarborough.

In 2009 they left Yorkshire and joined East Midlands In Bloom. It was a turning point for the team, who now had a band of volunteers behind them.

But a year into the economic crash, North East Lincolnshire Council were forced to cut budgets and In Bloom's £20,000 a year fund was slashed.

They soldiered on, raising the money themselves, seeking more sponsorship from local businesses, who, seeing the impact the team were having, gave readily.

Still with support of North East Lincolnshire Council – although not without a few rows over the digging up of Kingsway flowerbeds and the forced removal of award winning saucy postcards – they are now up for two gold awards in the Best Coastal Resort in East Midlands and in Britain In Bloom.

And with a host of other accolades behind them, silver, silver gilt, gold and the prestigious Champions Of Champions nomination, the team is stronger than ever.

They are now, once again, calling on the public for their support in 2013, inviting everyone to attend the official launch tomorrow from 7pm at McCormack's Bar, Pleasure Island.

Bob continued: "It hasn't been without its challenges. We have had our bad times as well as our good, but we have overcome the disagreements and are working more closely together than ever.

"We feel so proud of what we have achieved. We have contributed a lot and changed a lot of people's opinions.

"There are so many people behind us, who want to see the resort looking its best, who want nice colourful gardens. We have helped create that.

"We have this image of the perfect place and we are getting there.

"I remember the start like it was yesterday. It has gone so fast, but none of it could be done without the input of people, NELC and business partners.

"The list of people to thank is endless. Their support has been second to none.

"People are on board now. Years ago they weren't there. Now they feel that pride we have.

"Cleethorpes may be a small community, but it has a big heart.

"I am extremely proud to be a local lad who has contributed to making Cleethorpes the place it is today."

In Pictures: Cleethorpes In Bloom over the years

GRIMSBY Town suffered Wembley spot-kick heartache as they lost on penalties to Wrexham in the Carlsberg FA Trophy final.

It had all looked so promising for the Mariners when Andy Cook fired them into a 71st-minute lead in front of a black and white army of fans who had travelled down to the capital to cheer on their side.

But Wrexham, who few could argue were the better side on the day, hit back through a Kevin Thornton penalty to ensure the final went the distance.

And after a goalless extra time, Wrexham were immaculate in the shoot-out, scoring all four of their spot-kicks while Town missed two of theirs through Sam Hatton and then Richard Brodie, who left the field in tears at the final whistle.

With Derek Niven injured, Frankie Artus deputised for the Scot alongside skipper Craig Disley.

After the respective national anthems had been observed, the Mariners got the game underway, roared on by a 17,000-strong black and white army.

After a promising start for Town, skipper Craig Disley gave referee Jonathan Moss an early decision to make when he went in double-footed on his opposing skipper Dean Keates, but somewhat surprisingly, the 31-year-old got away with only a warning.

Few would argue that the Dragons had looked the more threatening in the opening 15 minutes, and, when Ian Miller gave the ball away at the back, Jay Harris stumbled through two ailing challenges before firing another warning shot over from just outside the box.

But with their pace in wide areas, Town were always going to pose a threat on the break, and, when Colbeck's clearance skewed into Marshall's path on the left, the winger carried the ball up field before being joined by Aswad Thomas.

The full-back failed to pick out a team-mate but, nevertheless, it was an encouraging sign for Rob Scott and Paul Hurst's under-pressure side.

After a cagey first-half, the game was always going open up in the second. And so it proved, as Town were appealing for a corner with less than four minutes of the restart following good work from Marshall on the left. At the other end, Wrexham player-boss Andy Morrell had the game's first real sight of goal.

A long ball was played through from the back and the veteran's gamble almost paid off when McKeown slipped before recovering well to smother his effort and eventually collect the loose ball.

Grimsby's Ross Hannah was sacrificed five minutes before the hour mark as Scott and Hurst threw on an extra midfielder in Andi Thanoj, and it almost paid instant dividends as, when Town broke from the back through a combination of Artus and Disley, Colbeck played in the now lone-striker Andy Cook, who fired just wide, unaware that the assistant linesman's flag had been raised for offside.

Riley was booked for hauling back Disley as the skipper looked to break amid a welcome spell of Town pressure as cries of 'we only sing when we're fishing' rang out.

But the Welshmen responded and roused their own fans with a decent break that ended with Brett Ormerod heading narrowly over.

The former Premier League hitman should have perhaps broken the deadlock but, seconds later, it was Town who did just that – with their first shot on target.

A superb ball from Disley set Colbeck racing down the right. The Yorkshireman waltzed into the box before pulling back to find Cook, who after seeing his first effort saved superbly by Maxwell, lashed home the rebound to send the travelling fans into raptures.

Stung by the goal, Wrexham looked to hit back straightaway and sub Adrian Cieslewicz drew a smart, low save from McKeown.

In the aftermath of that action, skipper Disley appealed for cool heads as Town looked to settle down from the euphoria of scoring the opener.

But they didn't appear to heed his warning as, eight minutes from time, a clumsy tackle from Pearson sent Keates tumbling in the box after the skipper had burst into the area.

It was a clear penalty and Kevin Thornton stepped up to send McKeown the wrong way and bring his side level and bring the boisterous Welsh contingent to their feet.

The joint bosses responded to that Wrexham pressure by bringing on Richard Brodie to partner Cook up top as the Mariners switched back to 4-4-2.

But that change did not make the impact that the first had and, with the two sides level after 90 minutes, the game went into extra time.

In Pictures: Grimsby Town v Wrexham - Match Gallery 3

In Pictures: Grimsby Town v Wrexham - Match Gallery 2

In Pictures: Grimsby Town v Wrexham - Match Gallery 1

In Pictures: Grimsby Town fans in Wembley Stadium

In Pictures: Grimsby Town fans outside Wembley

The opening ten minutes of the first period were largely uneventful, that was until Cieslewicz drew a superb, one-handed save from McKeown.

After the restart, Town enjoyed a brief bright spell with Colbeck dragging a 25-yarder just wide of Maxwell's post but at the other end, Wright underlined his side's threat with a header that drifted just wide.

With under five minutes to go, Cieslewicz drew another full-stretch save from McKeown, and the Town stopper was the hero again as the game approached the final minute of extra time.

A hopeful ball was played into the box and fell to the feet of Wright, who spun and struck a volley that somehow, McKeown got down to push the ball onto the post and away to ensure that the Mariners bought a ticket for the lottery of the shoot-out.

Wrexham won the toss to have the shoot-out held in front of their own fans, and Cieslewicz promptly drilled his effort low to get his side off to the best possible start.

Hatton was tasked with providing Town's response but the full-back could only smash his effort off the foot of the post.

Wright then stepped up to capitalise on that miss by coolly slotting down the middle before Brodie ballooned his spot-kick over the bar.

Centre-half Chris Westwood side-footed his kick into the side netting to put Wrexham on the edge of victory. And, knowing a miss would hand the Trophy to the Dragons, Colbeck stepped up and fired unerringly past Maxwell.

But the damage was already done with two earlier misses, and Johnny Hunt was the man to step up and drill the ball past McKeown to seal victory for Wrexham and condemn the Mariners to a tough walk up the 107 steps to collect their runners-up medals.