GRIMSBY Town skipper Craig Disley has urged the Mariners to "stick together, regroup and go again" following their first defeat since November.
The midfielder was the hero last weekend, scoring twice to give the Mariners a 3-0 first leg advantage in their FA Trophy semi-final against Dartford.
But on Tuesday night, that was all forgotten as Town were beaten at Braintree on a quagmire of a pitch as the freezing fog closed in.
Captain Disley was quick to take some of the blame for that rare loss after missing a gilt-edged chance to equalise before allowing the Iron's second goal – from a corner – to bypass him at the near post.
It was a nightmare three minutes for the 31-year-old, who has been so consistent this season.
"Bad night all round – should have equalised, then cocked up for the second goal. Need to stick together, regroup and go again," he said via Twitter yesterday.
The former Bristol Rovers man and his team-mates have the perfect opportunity to do just that when Town head to Kent for Saturday's Trophy second leg.
And Disley is determined to finish the job and book the Mariners' place in next month's Wembley final.
"We need to show Dartford the respect they deserve, because they played really well on Saturday – and make sure we don't slip up," he told the Telegraph.
"We'll have to talk about our tactics as the game gets closer, but we'll go into as big favourites. If we score a goal down there it will be very hard for them.
"And even if we do get to Wembley, it's only half the job done."
The central-midfielder, who has eight goals to his name already this campaign, continued: "We were pleased with the result in the first leg, if not the performance.
"Me and Del (Derek Niven) especially dropped a bit too deep in that game and didn't get up and support the forwards like we should have.
"It was a strange game, but the last ten minutes have given us a platform for Saturday. The tie is in our favour now and one we're looking to put to bed.
"The two goals at the death have made it a different game. It's still going to be tough, though, and we're not counting our chickens yet."
