Grimsby Town Advances to FA Cup Fourth Round with Late Winner
Kieran Green's late header in the 86th minute secured a thrilling 3-2 victory for Grimsby Town, propelling them into the fourth round of the FA Cup and leaving non-league Weston-super-Mare heartbroken.
Charles Vernam opened the scoring for the Mariners with a stunning long-range effort just before halftime, putting Grimsby ahead 1-0. However, Luke Coulson equalized for Weston, marking the club's first-ever appearance in the third round of the competition in their 138-year history.
Grimsby regained the lead when Jaze Kabia netted his 11th goal of the season, deftly flicking the ball in from a corner. Yet, Weston fought back once more, with Louis Britton scoring from close range to level the match at 2-2.
As extra time loomed, Green delivered the decisive blow, heading home from a corner to secure the victory for the League Two side.
Grimsby manager David Artell made six changes to the starting lineup, and his team faced a challenging task against a resolute Weston defense, which featured part-time players including a lecturer, a painter and decorator, and a personal trainer.
Despite ten first-half attempts, including near misses from Jamie Walker and Tyrell Warren, Grimsby struggled to find the net until Vernam’s effort just before halftime found its mark.
Weston came out with renewed vigor in the second half, with Britton narrowly missing the target. Coulson then leveled the score with a free-kick that took a heavy deflection, leaving Grimsby goalkeeper Jackson Smith scrambling.
Warren came close again for Grimsby, but it was Kabia who restored their lead before Britton equalized for Weston once more, thrilling the traveling supporters.
Ultimately, it was Green's late header that ended Weston-super-Mare's impressive cup run.
Reactions to the Match
Grimsby manager David Artell commented:
“We faced a spirited team today. Their performance shows why they reached the third round and why they are at the top of their league. They deserve significant credit. We scored three good goals, although they had some fortune with their deflected strike. However, we found a way to win, which is crucial in knockout football.”
Weston-super-Mare manager Scott Rogers reflected:
“This one is tough to swallow. We demonstrated fantastic character to come back twice and scored two well-executed goals that we practiced in training. I genuinely thought it was going to be our day. The winning goal was well taken, but we are disappointed we couldn't prevent it. I can't fault the team's effort; they were outstanding, and I’m absolutely gutted for them.”