FA Trophy replay match report: Grimsby Town 3 Coalville 0

DAYLE Southwell was the hat-trick hero as the Mariners finally broke down Coalville's stubborn resistance last night.

The young forward netted three second-half goals to send Town into the second round of the FA Trophy – at the second attempt.

Earlier in the evening, boss Paul Hurst sprang a surprise or four with his starting line-up.

A quartet of the Mariners' Youth team were in the match-day squad, with Ellis Humble making his senior debut at centre-half, and Caine Winfarrah starting at left-back.

Their team-mates, Tom Charlesworth and Paul Walker, began on the bench.

The formation was also unexpected, as Sam Hatton joined Paddy McLaughlin and Andi Thanoj in a three-man midfield. Dayle Southwell and Joe Colbeck flanked Andy Cook up front.

It was an intriguing team selection, and an equally interesting opening to the match.

Within two minutes, Lee Miveld lashed a 25-yarder just over the home crossbar as the visitors showed they weren't about to be overawed by the occasion.

Play immediately switched to the other end, and Hatton should have done better with his close-range header following Southwell's clever nod back across goal.

That effort sailed wide, but within a minute Town went close again as Colbeck cut in from the left flank and fired narrowly over Sean Bowles' crossbar.

After seven minutes, James McKeown had to be off his line quickly to deny Saturday's Coalville scorer Jordan Hempenstall before Hatton's cross was cleared near the line by Danny Jenno at the opposite end.

The game was into its 13th minute when the lively Hatton arrowed a low drive just past the away side's post from 20 yards.

And the half-chances continued to flow, with Southwell nodding the first corner of the evening wide when he should have hit the target.

Moments later, McLaughlin turned onto his weaker right-foot, but there was nothing soft about his drive from distance which flew just too high.

As the game approached the 20-minute mark, the Ravens responded, forcing successive corners which had the home defence scrambling.

Next, it was Colbeck again, though, as his drive was deflected wide, with Southwell's effort from the resulting corner blocked short of the line.

It had been a frantic opening, but neither keeper had been called upon to make a save of note, which told its own story.

And, after a brief respite, that trend continued as Paul Bignot and Hatton fired wide of the mark.

The part-timers were next to have a pop when Ben Saunders' effort flew narrowly wide eight minutes before the break.

The quality of both sides' attacks had deteriorated as the half progressed and the opportunities dried up completely as everyone considered their choice of half-time beverage.

Remarkably, the Mariners had racked up ten shots on goal in the opening 45 minutes – all off target.

The first 'real' effort did arrive two minutes into the second period, but it was the visitors who registered it – McKeown keeping Saunders' shot out with his feet.

It was the 51st minute when Town responded as Hatton's free-kick from the left was met by Cook ten yards out, but he wastefully headed way over the bar.

It was becoming a dour, uninspiring grind, but the hosts did finally force Bowles into action in the 56th minute when Thanoj fed McLaughlin and he shot straight at the Ravens' keeper.

A far better chance followed quickly at the other end as Hempenstall squared for Kevin Charley who should have finally broken the deadlock. Instead, the Coalville midfielder sliced his shot horribly wide from ten yards out.

Some quality in the final third was desperately needed, and almost supplied as McLaughlin exchanged passes with Thanoj and smashed a fine effort inches wide.

And just as the home crowd were starting to dread 30 more minutes of extra-time on a bitterly cold evening, the Mariners went ahead.

Bignot surged along the right flank and clipped in a superb cross to the far post where Southwell took a touch before firing home from 12 yards or so.

The home side just about deserved their advantage, and almost doubled it in the 72nd minute when Southwell glided past the visiting defence and forced Bowles into a decent save.

Coalville gave Town a shock moments later when Hempenstall planted a header onto McKeown's crossbar, before Charley sliced another shot wide.

That awoke the Mariners and the game was safe 12 minutes from time when Colbeck's excellent cross from the left was headed home by that man, Southwell.

Cook had endured a frustrating evening and that continued as he raced clear and lifted his shot over the bar before seeing another effort blocked.

Sub Tom Charlesworth then tested Bowles with a drive before the resulting corner was headed off the line by Cameron Stuart.

Colbeck burst through in the inside right channel and forced Bowles into another stop in the final minute before Southwell completed his hat-trick, with the help of a deflection, a minute into injury time.

That rounded-off a pleasing night for the youngster – and ensured Town will travel to Barnet in ten days' time for the second round.