Grimsby Town 4 Burnley 1 - John Kirkby's big match verdict

WITH Harrison and Ford on the Burnley subs bench, it was a case of raiders of the lost cause.

Both players tasted the action in the second half by which time the Clarets were well and truly out of it with Grimsby ripping their defences apart.

And it was harder to imagine what Harrison Ford himself could have done to prevent the Temple of Doom falling in on Waddle's men.

On the positive side Burnley scored a good goal to take a 16th minute lead and despite being pegged back immediately they were unlucky to have a Paul Barnes header ruled out just before half time for some infringement only the referee's assistant spotted.

Burnley competed well in a lively and entertaining first half but once they had been pulled apart for Grimsby's second goal on 58 minute there was no way back.

You have to go back to the 1947-48 season for Burnley's last win at Blundell Park and hopes flickered briefly in the 16th minute.

Grimsby had started brightly showing no signs of a hangover after losing 3-0 at Liverpool midweek in the Coca-Cola Cup. And it was rather against the run of play when Paul Weller shot Burnley ahead cutting in from the left and beating Grimsby keeper Aidan Davison with a shot that flew in off the underside of the bar.

But Burnley's celebrations were stifled even before they had the opportunity to ring out.

Fullback John McDermott crossed from the right and skipper Paul Groves headed powerfully down into the net past keeper Marlon Beresford.

Grimsby had further chances with Beresford saving from striker Lee Nogan at the second attempt and Groves heading wide after good work from Kevin Donavan.

Then came the mystery of Barnes' header from Chris Waddle's cross which was accepted by Grimsby's players as a good goal.

The referee saw little wrong with the effort but disallowed it after one of his assistants had flagged - supposedly for a push.

Grimsby made the most of their reprieve in the second half when they tore into Waddle's men. It took a fine goal line clearance from skipper Neil Moore after Nogan's shot had beaten Beresford in the 49th minute.

But there was no such relief for Burnley as the eel-like Jack Lester wriggled his way past several challenges to set up midfielder Tommy Widdrington.

The gaping goal proved irresistible for the former Southampton player and he scooped the ball, high into the net.

It was no contest after that.

Grimsby sensed a killing and Burnley rolled and submitted meekly. Lester and Nogan tormented them all afternoon and both were full value for the goals they snatched within five minutes of each other.

First up in the 72nd minute it was Lester who ran on to a through ball from left back Tony Gallimore. Having put the ball past Beresford he ran it into the empty net.

And then Lester set up his co-striker for a fine goal which Nogan buried emphatically into the bottom corner of the net.

Waddle had gone off in the 74th minute to be replaced by Gerry Harrison. The other "old man" of the side, Gordon Cowans, had been replaced on 61 minutes by Mark Ford. A third substitution came Burnley's way on 82 minutes when Colin Carr-Lawton replaced Paul Smith.

Grimsby made no change until the 87 minute when striking duo Lester and Nogan went off to tremendous applause - their job well and truly accomplished. Former Blackburn striker Steve Livingstone and Kevin Jobling joined the fray to play out time.

In an attacking flourish just before full time fullback Chris Brass struck a shot against the Grimsby bar but by then many of Burnley's travelling support had deserted their post.

The final whistle could not come soon enough for Burnley's players and they trudged off to face a 30 minute "discussion" in the confines of their dressing room.

At least Burnley have an early chance to redeem themselves when Rotherham visit Turf Moor tomorrow for their FA Cup first round replay.

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