Grimsby Town 0 Shrewsbury Town 0 - Report

The Mariners hit the woodwork twice and had the lion's share of the chances to look the more likely of the two to earn a trip to Championship side Cardiff in the third round, and make a mockery of the 33 places between the teams.

Salop rarely looked like breaking the deadlock but Anthony Gerrard threatened twice with early headers, while James Collins nodded at keeper James McKeown from point-blank range and Scott Vernon was denied in a one on one, both in the second half.

Worrying for Salop was an injury to keeper Jayson Leutwiler, who was stretchered off with a gashed face just before half-time after he dived bravely at the feet of Conor Townsend.

Leutwiler had stitches in his lip, nose and eye area but was able to travel home on the team coach afterwards.

Town boss Micky Mellon made two changes to the side beaten by 3-1 at home to Walsall.

Both were enforced, with Liam Lawrence replacing Ian Black, who was suspended after his sending off against the Saddlers, while Shaun Whalley came in for Larnell Cole, who hadn't recovered from the groin injury that forced him off at half-time in the same game.

Winger Whalley was making his first start for Salop after seven previous appearances off the bench since his summer move from Luton.

Salop were attempting to win a trip to Championship side Cardiff in the third round.

But it was the Mariners carried more urgency than their loftier-placed visitors and the tempo they played at made it difficult for Shrewsbury to get any dominance of the play.

Mellon's side struggled to cope with the strong running and probing of midfielder Craig Clay and the pace and movement of Amond and strike partner Jon-Paul Pittman.

And they were given a stiff test as the Conference side, who are 33 places below Salop, had the more clear-cut chances of the first half.

Pittman had the first, on 20 minutes, after he twisted inside Nat Knight-Percival following Clay's defence splitting pass, forcing Leutwiler into a diving save to his right.

Eight minutes later, 18-goal top scorer Amond almost brought the house down with a drive that scraped the top of the bar after a fine piece of skill.

Before that, Grimsby threatened with a rising effort from Pittman that took a deflection off Knight-Percival, before Leutwiler was forced to punch clear Conor Townsend's inswinging corner.

Shrewsbury broke to force the first of two threatening headers from Anthony Gerrard from Whalley corners. The first effort was straight at keeper James McKeown and the second flew just over from eight yards out.

Then James Collins had an effort blocked by Josh Gowling from Sullay Kaikai's cross touched back by Scott Vernon.

But the big worry for the visitors was the injury to Leutwiler just before half-time.

Grimsby fans howled for a penalty after the big Swiss bravely dived at Townsend's feet, but the keeper lay worryingly on the ground for several anxious minutes before finally departing on a stretcher.

His replacement, Mark Halstead had little time to prepare as he was immediately in action to back pedal then tip away Nathan Arnold's inswinging corner as six minutes of time added on to allow for Leutwiler's injury got underway.

Shrewsbury were hassled out of their stride at times by an eager Grimsby side who bore all the confidence of a side who are the top scorers in the National League with 46 goals.

The Mariners started the second half as they ended the first - on the attack.

This time there was an almighty scramble at the far post after the hosts worked a short corner and giant centre back Aristote Nsiala nodded wide.

The pace of the game dropped as we approached the hour mark with defences very much on top as both sides found it difficult to break each other down and it looked increasingly as if one goal would win it.

The difficulty both teams were finding in front of goal was summed up by a bizarre free kick from Gerrard, which rolled harmlessly wide.

Townsend broke the monotony with a cross that seemed to completely deceive Halstead before crashing off the underside of the bar.

That sparked a flurry of openings as it suddenly became end to end after the hour mark, with Collins heading too close to McKeown on the line from Junior Brown's cross.

Andy Monkhouse forced Halstead to scramble away with a 25-yard drive but immediately, Salop broke through Vernon, who was denied by McKeown in a one-on-one.

Grimsby came again and Halstead flung himself full length to his right to tip away Townsend's curling free kick.

Shrewsbury made a double substitution in the 80th minute when former Grimsby man Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro and Tyrone Barnett replaced Vernon and Collins up front.

But instead it was Grimsby who attacked as sub Omar Bogle flashed a rising effort over the bar.

Then the impressive Clay seemed to have won it for the Mariners on 85 but with Halstead at full stretch, his thunderbolt flew inches over.

In the four minutes of time added on, Barnett tried to win it for Salop with a shot on the turn but it was straight at McKeown.

Sub Alex Jones was then inches too high with a vicious drive.

In the Shrewsbury survived but they will be the most relieved after the hosts were the more threatening side.

Grimsby (4-4-2): McKeown; Tait, Nsiala, Gowling, Townsend; Arnold, Disley, Clay, Monkhouse; Amond (Alabi 86), Pittman (Bogle 77).

Subs not used: Robertson, Brown, Pearson, Jones, Henderson.

Shrewsbury (4-4-2): Leutwiler 7 (Halstead 45, 7); Grandison 6, GERRARD 7, Knight-Percival 6, Brown 6; Kaikai 5, Lawrence 6, Ogogo 6, Whalley 7; Vernon 6 (Akpa Akpro 80, 6), Collins 6 (Barnett 80, 5).

Subs not used: Sadler, McAlinden, Clark, Smith.

Referee: Seb Stockbridge (Gateshead, Tyne and Wear)

Attendance: 3,366 (75 Shrewsbury fans).