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.
