Ex-Mariners make their mark on FA Cup third round weekend
JAKE HESSENTHALER AND HARRY CARDWELL PLAY THEIR PARTS IN BIG CUP UPSETS
GRIMSBY Town played no part in FA Cup third round weekend, but there were plenty of former Mariners at the heart of the action. Town fell at the first hurdle in the completion back in November when they were knocked out by Dagenham, who won 3-1. While they were suffering another disappointing weekend, this time courtesy of a 3-0 loss against Port Vale - plenty of ex-Mariners were making their mark.
Crawley Town delivered one of the FA Cup third round’s most emphatic upsets as the League Two underdogs beat Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United - and Jake Hessenthaler played his part in the 3-0 win.
The former Town midfielder played for 90 minutes before being brought off in the final seconds of the famous win.
Harry Cardwell played the full 90 minutes in Chorley’s 2-0 win over Derby.
A Covid-19 outbreak meant the Championship club were without their entire first-team squad, boss Wayne Rooney and most of their under-23 side. Nine of Derby’s starting 11 were making senior debuts and the team had an average age of just 19.
Chorley took full advantage of the situation, with Cardwell and co securing their passage to Round Four.
Padraig Amond - prolific during his year or so with Grimsby Town - played for an hour in Newport’s tie against Brighton.
After an entertaining 1-1 draw, Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele made four penalty saves as they beat Newport 4-3 in the shootout.
Former Mariners loan star Josh Benson came off the bench for Burnley, and scored in their shoot-out win.
Burnley drew 1-1 with MK Dons before winning 4-3 on penalties. Anthony Glennon - another who spent time on loan with Town last season - also came on as a sub. Harry Davis played for Morecambe against
Chelsea, as Frank Lampard’s men cruised to a 4-0 win thanks to goals from Mason Mount, Timo Werner, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Kai Havertz.
Middlesbrough manager Neil Warnock gave Rumarn Burrell his first team debut. Brentford won 2-1 but it was still a proud moment for former Mariners youth prospect Burrell, who came on in the 90th minute for the closing moments of the game. Meanwhile, Former Grimsby Town defender Bilel Mohsni has been released by Barnet – just over a month after joining the National League side.
The Tunisia international joined the Bees at the start of December after his time with the Mariners was brought to a premature, and confusing, end.
Former Town boss Ian Holloway announced the 33-year-old’s departure following the 5-0 defeat at Tranmere, but Mohsni took to social media the following day to deny he had left. After then turning up for training, the former Rangers and Southend defender eventually had his departure confirmed when he joined Barnet just over a week later.
His stay in London has proven to be a short one though, with Mohsni now once again without a club.
The Bees announced yesterday that he and midfielder Dean Parrett had been released by the club, with the pair leaving with immediate effect.
Mohsni made just three appearances in all competitions, having been registered with Barnet on a non-contract basis.
He suffered defeats in all three games, including a 6-0 scoreline at Chesterfield, while his final game for the club resulted in a 3-0 loss against Boreham Wood last weekend. Mohsni’s departure from Barnet continues what has been a strange season for the player, after he made just one appearance off the bench for the Mariners after becoming Holloway’s first signing of the summer.