Grimsby Town Foundation had a fairytale cup run to the last four of the National competition before being beaten by Swindon Town in the semi-final. Grimsby were drawn in a qualification group of five in September 23, which included Wolves, Stoke, Liverpool and Fleetwood B'.
They went on to win their opening two games against Stoke and Wolves but then slipped up away at Liverpool, losing 2-1. Wolves completed their group fixtures before Town and won their other games, meaning they held the top spot by five goals, as Grimsby entered their final group game against Fleetwood B'. Amazingly, the Mariners won 6-0, with the final goal coming deep into injury time to claim the top spot and qualification from the group into the last 32.
Grimsby were then drawn away to Fleetwood Town A’ who made the semi-finals last year. In a scrappy performance, the Mariners clung on to a slender 2-1 lead to reach the last 16 of the competition.
West Brom Albion A’ were the opponents in the round of 16 at Franklin Sixth Form College, after going a goal behind. Grimsby swung the game late on, to again win 2-1, where they were to be drawn against Burton Albion at home in the quarter-finals.
After going 1-0 up early on, Town were reduced to ten men in the first half. Burton equalised just before halftime, but against all odds, Grimsby found a way to pinch that all-important winner and again hold on to a 2-1 lead.
The run would come to an end in Swindon in April; however, a poor start saw Grimsby 3-0 within half an hour. Unfortunately, there was to be no comeback this time and whilst chasing the game in the second half Swindon added two more goals.
Grimsby can still take some silverware this season, needing two wins from their final three league games to secure the EFL CEFA NEL1 title.
