Grimsby Town played hosts to Huddersfield Town at Blundell Park with a place in the fourth round of the FA Cup up for grabs.
The Conference Premier outfit were one of only three non-league teams left in the competition and faced a Terriers side that currently sit mid-table in the Championship.
In a back-and-forth contest, Huddersfield put their name in the hat with a late winner.
Read how the match unfolded in our live commentary below.
Good afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the FA Cup third round where Grimsby Town take on Huddersfield Town.
The magic of the cup is here and, today, it takes us down to Blundell Park; the home of Conference Premier side Grimsby Town. The Mariners are just one of three non-league teams left in the competition, but that doesn't mean you should write them off at all. Besides, the FA Cup is the home of the giant killings.
Standing in their way of a place in the fourth round of the competition are Huddersfield Town of the Championship. They did manage to win the cup before, but you have to go all the way back to 1922 to find that success. This is their first match in the tournament this season, so I'm sure they will need no added motivation on the road to Wembley.
Before we dive into any more depth, let's bring you the team news.
We are still awaiting team news from the hosts, so let's move on to the travelling side.
HUDDERSFIELD XI: Smithies, Wallace, Gerrard, Smith, Dixon, Hogg, Clayton, Norwood, Hammill, Paterson, Ward
Mark Robins has made just one change to his side following their 3-2 defeat at Burnley last time out.
That change is somewhat enforced; Joel Lynch has failed to recover from the niggle that forced him off at Burnley on New Year's Day, so the experienced Anthony Gerrard steps in. Otherwise the Terriers are unchanged, which means they are likely to begin the game in their 3-5-2 formation again today.
Goalkeeper and captain Alex Smithies is the only surviving member of the Huddersfield squad from the last time the two sides met, which was back in December 2007. He was a substitute back then, but starts today as he retains his ever-present seasonal record, playing a back three of Murray Wallace, Anthony Gerrard and Tommy Smith.
Paul Dixon and Adam Hammill are likely to be deployed as the wing-backs, with Jonathan Hogg, Adam Clayton and Oliver Norwood forming the central midfield trio. Danny Ward starts an FA Cup tie for the Huddersfield for the first time in attack, alongside in-form ex-Mariner Martin Paterson, who scored six goals in 15 starts on loan at Grimsby from Stoke City between November 2006 and February 2007.
Let's take a look at what Mark Robins has in reserve.
HUDDERSFIELD BENCH: Bennett, Woods, Scannell, Gobern, Lopez, Sinnott, Holmes
Right, the home news is in, so let's take a peek at it.
GRIMSBY XI: McKeown, Bignot, Thomas, Pearson, Doig, Disley, Thanoj, Colbeck, Neilson, Cook, Hannah
Grimsby manager Paul Hurst has made one change to the team that drew with Lincoln in their last outing on New Year's Day.
Andy Cook comes into the attack in place of Lenell John-Lewis, who misses this match through suspension after being sent off in their last match.
And for the bench.
GRIMSBY BENCH: Hatton, Hedge, McLaughlin, Southwell, Rodman, Winfarrah, Humble
The Marines have already played two ties in this competition. They required a replay to win 2-1 at Scunthorpe in the first round following a goalless draw at Blundell Park, before they beat Northampton Town at home in the second round. That's two fourth-tier teams that have already felt the wrath of Grimsby, but can they add a third scalp against Huddersfield of the second division in English football.
I mentioned earlier that Huddersfield have previously tasted victory in this tournament, well so has their boss Mark Robins, who scored a famous FA Cup third-round goal for Manchester United against Nottingham Forest in 1990 and went on to win the trophy that season. It was the first piece of silverware collected by Sir Alex Ferguson as United manager.
Grimsby are in fine form having lost just one of their last 16 matches, while Huddersfield have won just once in their last six, leaving them 13th in the Championship. Once more, a lot of positions separate them, but the FA Cup is always a great equaliser. These two sides have met twice in the FA Cup before, with Huddersfield emerging victorious both times.
Grimsby have made it to the FA Cup semi-finals on two previous occasions, but are yet to advance to the final. They are playing in the third round for the first time in 12 years and are looking to reach the fourth round for the first time since 1998. It's a big ask of them today.
We're just a few minutes from kick off at Blundell Park, and the excitement is forever increasing.
Here they come then from the tunnel to a rapturous applause from the home crowd.
Grimsby are in their first kit of black and white striped shirts with black shorts and socks, while Huddersfield are in their all-yellow away strip.
An interesting stat before we start, Grimsby have lost just one of their last seven matches in the FA Cup proper as a non-League team.
KICK OFF! Huddersfield, playing from right to left, get the match underway.
SAVE! McKeown is forced into a save just 20 seconds in as Huddersfield go on the attack. Paterson pings a shot from the right of the box towards the near post, and McKeown is forced to push it behind at full stretch.
OFF THE POST! Ward smashes a shot from 35 yards out, and why not in these condition, which forces McKeown to make a difficult save. He makes the first stop but can only parry in front of him, where Paterson slides in before watching the ball come back off the post. The Huddersfield man did look to be offside though.
Eventful start at Blundell Park then, with Huddersfield well on top at the moment.
Another good move from the Terriers as Ward switches the play to Dixon on the left. He cuts inside before hitting a shot with his right foot which flies towards the top corner, but McKeown can dive and catch it.
The clash in styles of play is clear already. Grimsby are very much adopting an aerial, route one approach, while Huddersfield are keeping the ball on the floor and passing it around.
Hammill puts a cross in from the right, but it is just too high for Ward.
Grimsby are really under the cosh at the moment, but some last-ditch blocks are keeping them level. The crowd is certainly up for it.
It's unsurprising, but still a staggering statistic. Huddersfield have had 79% possession so far.
Grimsby now have a rare attack, which comes to nothing, but it gets the home fans going. Thanoj gets the ball on the wing and paces down the right flank. He then curls in a superb cross towards the far post, but none of his teammates can get it and it bounces past an outstretched Smithies and out for a goal kick.
Heart-in-mouth moment for the away side there as Thomas hits a shot from the edge of the box which takes a big deflection and could go anywhere. However it bounces just past the far post and out for a corner. Thomas then gets his head on the corner, but nods wide.
Grimsby are growing into this game now after weathering the early Huddersfield onslaught. I'm amazed we haven't had a goal yet.
GOAL! Grimsby Town 1-0 Huddersfield Town (Ross Hannah)
The non-league side are in front! It's a good goal as well for Grimsby as Colbeck goes on another strong run down the right before coming into the box. He reaches the byline before smashing a low cross towards the far post, where Hannah has a simple tap-in.
Huddersfield had 79% possession at one point, but they now find themselves behind; isn't that just football.
Hamill has a free kick in a decent position for Huddersfield, but his delivery is poor, too long and wasteful.
Huddersfield have responded well, and are on the attack, but yet to break down a resistant Grimsby.
Ward has a shot blocked inside the Grimsby penalty area before the ball breaks to Clayton, but his shot his smashed wide.
Grimsby are yet to really venture forward since going ahead, Huddersfield are in firm control once more.
Another important Grimsby block, this time from Doig. Paterson tees up Hammill on the edge of the box, who slams a shot towards goal, but the centre-back gets himself in the way.
Grimsby are just starting to break up the play a bit more having drawn a few free kicks. That's allowed them to take a breather and get the ball forward.
We will have one minute of added time.
HALF TIME: Grimsby Town 1-0 Huddersfield Town
This is what the cup is all about! The Conference Premier side are ahead thanks to Ross Hannah's goal, despite being on the back foot for most of the half.
Huddersfield have generally been well on top, but haven't managed to take their chances. Grimsby are 45 minutes away from going into the hat for the next round.
Huddersfield are making their way back out at Blundell Park. They have 45 minutes to spare their blushes.
And Grimsby have now joined them.
KICK OFF! Grimsby, playing to the left, get the second half up and running.
KICK OFF! Grimsby, playing to the left, get the second half up and running.
Seems as if Mark Robins has changed the formation to 4-3-3, with Paterson being flanked by Ward and Hammill.
Huddersfield have a free kick in a promising position here. Central, 25 yards out.
GOAL! Grimsby Town 1-1 Huddersfield Town (Oliver Norwood)
What a superb free kick from Norwood. He gives McKeown now chance as he curls it into the top left corner of the net before opting for an Eric Cantona-like celebration.
YELLOW CARD First booking of the game goes to Adam Hammill for a silly foul on the touchline on Colbeck.
HUDDERSFIELD CHANGES: Daniel Ward and Jonathan Hogg have both seen their numbers called by the fourth official, as Robins sends on Duane Holmes and Sean Scannell.
A bit of scrappy play sees the ball bounce into the path of Hammill about 25 yards from goal. He smashes a dipping half-volley at a ferocious pace, but it flies just over the crossbar.
GOAL! Grimsby Town 2-1 Huddersfield Town (Craig Disley)
They're back in front! It's the captain Craig Disley with the goal. Andy Cook brings the ball down on the left of the box before jinking past one man and firing a shot at goal. The effort takes a deflection, which loops into the air towards the far post, where Disley is there to head into the back of the net.
YELLOW CARD Really poor challenge from Norwood, who just hacks down his marker after being beaten.
GRIMSBY CHANGE Patrick McLaughlin comes on for Andi Thanoj.
YELLOW CARD Dixon is the latest Huddersfield man to go into the book. He runs straight into Bignot off the ball, and is maybe a little unfortunate to be penalised for it.
It's pretty even stuff at the moment, with both sides attacking. The home fans are in fine voice, they can sense an upset.
Grimsby are passing the ball around nicely as they look to try to create another chance at goal. That's confidence for you.
SAVE! Superb stop from Smithies from point-blank range from a McLaughlin header in a busy penalty area. He palms it over for a corner.
MISS! What a chance for Thomas to seal the game for Grimsby. McLaughlin's corner is swung into the near post where Thomas is unmarked, but the ball comes off his shoulder and moves wide of the front post.
HUDDERSFIELD CHANGE Final alteration from Robins, as Cristian Lopez replaces Adam Hammill.
CHANCE! Lopez is immediately involved as he frees up Paterson on the right of the box. Paterson shifts the ball onto his strong foot before hitting a shot at goal, which takes a deflection and heads wide.
GRIMSBY CHANGE Alex Rodman is on for Scott Neilson.
Five minutes of normal time for Grimsby to hang on, but they're the side that is on the attack right now.
GOAL! Grimsby Town 2-2 Huddersfield Town (Martin Paterson)
Paterson may have just kept Huddersfield in the cup. Holmes smashes a shot from the edge of the D which is straight at McKeown, but the keeper can only pat it down into the path of Paterson. The striker keeps his cool, and slots the ball into the back of the net.
YELLOW CARD Martin Paterson, shortly after scoring the equaliser, goes into the book for a silly trip.
Is there a dramatic winner in this? It wouldn't surprise me.
GOAL! Grimsby Town 2-3 Huddersfield Town (Aswad Thomas OG)
This is so so cruel on the non-league side, and it's heartache for Thomas. The cross comes in from the left, and it hits Thomas and heads in. He looks utterly dejected.
There will be five minutes of added time for Grimsby to save themselves.
Grimsby are committing players forward to attack, leaving space for Huddersfield counter. It's a kill or be killed mentality, but they simply have to do it.
FULL TIME: Grimsby Town 2-3 Huddersfield Town
That is gutting for Grimsby, who were so close to causing another upset but instead are dumped out of the FA Cup late on.
Grimsby twice led after goals from Hannah and Disley, but they were cancelled out by Norwood and Paterson, before Thomas scored an own goal in the dying minutes to put Huddersfield through.
Well that's it from me, I hope you enjoyed the game. Goodbye.
Written by
Matt Cotton
Matt Cotton
