Ashington striker Jamie Clarke thought that the 5-0 scoreline at Grimsby's Blundell Park was harsh on the Northern League side.

Veteran Clarke, who has exited the competition as one of the top scorers with seven goals, said: “We got punished for our mistakes, which you’d expect from a full time club. 5-0 is a little harsh I think, but that’s the way it goes. It’s great experience for the younger lads in the squad who should have a few more days like this to look forward to. The Ashington fans who travelled to the game were nothing short of phenomenal. They sang very loudly for two hours and are a huge credit to their club and the town.”

Ashington were up against it once they conceded an early goal to Rob Duffy, although they had a spirited spell with a couple of shots on target before Grimsby got their second through Liam Hearn on 37 minutes. Hearn got another before the break, with Rob Eagle and Dayle Southwell scoring further goals.