Grimsby Town win 4-0 at Blundell Park to progress in The Trophy.
Grimsby Town 4-0 AFC Hornchurch
The FA Carlsberg Trophy
Second Round Proper
3pm, Saturday 14 January 2012
Blundell Park, Grimsby Town FC
Winning clubs receive £6000 from The FA's prize fund
Click here for fixtures
Hornchurch’s FA Trophy dream was ended by a ruthlessly efficient Grimsby Town in the Second Round Proper at Blundell Park today.
Shaun Pearson marked his return to the starting line-up with the opening goal, before an Anthony Elding double put the result beyond doubt before half-time.
In the second half, the one-sided scoring was completed when Conor Townsend made it 4-0.
Visitors Hornchurch faced an uphill task even before the whistle went as their 19-goal top scorer Martin Tuohy was ruled out through suspension.
Grimsby were in no mind to be sympathetic, however, and rattled in four without reply past their toothless opponents.
Pearson’s opener was a header from a corner after one of Grimsby’s sustained first-half attacks.
Hornchurch did their best to retaliate but Lewis Smith fired high and wide from out on the left when he could and should have done better.
Elding got his first of the day when he reacted first to a shot volleyed across the Hornchurch goal to tap in and take his personal tally for the season into double figures.
Elding got his second of the afternoon in first-half injury time. Once again, he met across ahead of the Hornchurch defence but this time converted with his head.
It was a similar story in the second half with Grimsby dominating possession and adding to the scoring.
On 72 minutes, the result was confirmed when Townsend scored the goal of the day with a superb solo effort.
The Town star picked the ball up close to the touchline on the left and beat his man before cutting in and firing low and hard into the Hornchurch net.
Town then closed the game out to keep a clean sheet, despite the efforts of Hornchurch to force a late consolation goal, and secure £6,000 prize money.
The FATV cameras were at Blundell Park for the game, so make sure you check out the highlights on Sunday.
