Football / FA Cup: Mendonca makes net gain

Grimsby Town. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Swansea City. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0

GRIMSBY, fringe promotion challengers in the First Division, earned a fifth- round FA Cup trip to Premier League Ipswich on Saturday when they ended Second Division Swansea's hopes at a rain-swept Blundell Park last night.

After going behind in the 16th minute, Swansea mounted a game attempt to fight back in the fourth- round replay and were unlucky when a deflection enabled Grimsby to gain the cushion of a second goal with 17 minutes remaining.

Grimsby's early attempts to build moves fluently were frustrated by close marking. None the less, Clive Mendonca should have given them the lead in the 16th minute. He snatched at his chance, though, after Gary Childs had linked cleverly with Tony Rees to get behind the Swansea defence.

But Mendonca had to wait only three minutes before atoning for his mistake. John McDermott, on a diagonal run from the right flank, seemed to have lost possession to Keith Walker at the edge of the penalty area. But the full- back tackled back gamely and the loose ball ran into the path of Mendonca, who scored his 11th goal of the season.

Swansea made more of a show as half-time approached and won a series of corners. A couple of chances fell to Colin West, but the striker could not get enough power into his shots to beat Rhys Wilmot.

Grimsby felt they had a claim for a penalty when Mendonca went down in a clash with Mark Harris, but the home side's lead looked insecure as Swansea made a positive start to the second half. Wilmot did well to smother an awkward low shot from Des Lyttle in the Welsh side's best move.

But the tie moved out of the visitors' reach in the 73rd minute when David Gilbert's right-footed attempt from the edge of the penalty area took a deflection off Stephen Jenkins, leaving Roger Freestone with no chance.

Grimsby Town: Wilmot; McDermott, Agnew, Futcher, Rodger, Dobbin, Childs, Gilbert, Groves, Mendonca, Rees. Substitutes not used: Smith, Croft.

Swansea City: Freestone; Lyttle, Jenkins, Walker, Harris, Ford, Hayes (Wimbleton, 79), Bowen, West, Cornforth, Legg (Chapple, 84).

Referee: T Holbrook (West Midlands).