Grimsby Town’s memorable Emirates FA Cup adventure came to an end as Evan Ferguson’s double helped Brighton & Hove Albion breeze into the semi-finals with a 5-0 win at the Amex Stadium.
The League Two Mariners had lowered the colours of Premier League Southampton in the previous round but were unable to emulate those giant-killing exploits on another Cup trip to the south coast.
Irish ace Ferguson, 18, netted twice in the second period after Deniz Undav had opened the scoring for the top-flight hosts on just six minutes.
Paul Hurst’s fourth-tier side rallied resiliently throughout but two late goals from Solly March and Kaoru Mitoma capped an emphatic victory as Brighton kept their hopes of a first ever Emirates FA Cup title alive.
An incredible FA Cup run comes to an end
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) March 19, 2023
What a journey, @officialgtfc 🙌#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/3O7pv6Lhd7
Grimsby fans had made the near-500 mile round trip down from Lincolnshire en masse hoping for a stunning repeat of their Gavan Holohan-inspired triumph under the St Mary’s lights earlier this month.
But those dreams quickly begun to evaporate after Undav broke the deadlock with just a matter of minutes on the clock.
The German forward was quickest to react after Max Crocombe spilled Moises Caicedo’s long-range shot and stabbed home from inside the area to haul the hosts in front.
The Seagulls were rampant throughout the opening exchanges and should have doubled their lead when Mitoma – the dramatic late match-winner in their 2-1 win over Liverpool in the fourth round – inexplicably fired wide after Pascal Gross’ ball across the face of goal.
Enjoy that one, @OfficialBHAFC fans? 😅#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/9U9xGgBtwX
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) March 19, 2023
Grimsby clung on to just a one-goal deficit until the break but it didn’t take long for Ferguson to seize the limelight at the start of the second period.
Argentinian World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister’s lofted pass found the young striker in the box, who brilliantly brought the ball down and rolled in an ice-cool finish past Crocombe on the turn.
And Ferguson soon had his second when he capped a fluent passing move by rampaging into the box and rifling in at the near post past Crocombe once again.
Grimsby continued to battle bravely but late goals from March and Mitoma brought their thrilling Emirates FA Cup exploits to an end as Brighton reached the semi-finals for just the third time in their history.
