York City must wish they could play in the FA Cup every week.

Once again, the Minstermen, up against higher division opposition, produced a performance full of diligence and determination to make a mockery of their lowly League position.

As happened in the first round against Colchester, the only disappointment for City was that they did not sink the Mariners at the first time of asking.

In the first-half in particular they certainly had the chances.

While Alan Fettis was little more than a spectator throughout the 90 minutes, it was no coincidence that the Grimsby 'keeper, Danny Coyne, was named their man of the match.

Town enjoyed their fair share of possession and had the goals been positioned at either side of the half-way line then they may have posed more of a threat.

But while they were happy to knock the ball across the back, there was rarely any injection of pace, no sense of adventure or ambition and little penetration to get in behind City.

But toothless Grimsby's failings should not detract from a polished City performance.

The Minstermen had clearly done their homework on the Mariners, and were ultra-quick to get men behind the ball when possession was lost to squeeze the play.

Roared on by a magnificent and vociferous away-day following, tackles were crisp and sharp, the work-rate from front to back phenomenal.

The defence in particular, battered and bruised in the aftermath of the Cheltenham defeat, shaken and stirred against Shrewsbury just seven days earlier, were rock-solid in their concentration.

The only time Grimsby got a genuine sight of goal came on 14 minutes, but from Ben Chapman's cross former Everton striker Phil Jevons could only lift the ball over the bar from six-yards.

But for all their new-found solidity, City, more swift and direct than Town, also carried the greater threat going forward.

Former Mariner Lee Nogan squandered perhaps City's best chance of the game on five minutes.

Put through by the excellent Mike Basham, Nogan had only Coyne to beat but rolled his shot just inches wide of the upright.

However, more chances were to follow.

From a Graham Potter corner, Michael Proctor's glancing near post header forced a fine save from Coyne, who also had to be alert to push away a Nick Richardson pile driver and tip a Lee Bullock header over the bar.

Latching on to a Matt Hocking clearance, Proctor drove a near-post effort against the legs of Coyne before a half-volley from Richardson whistled just over.

The second-half offered up much the same although genuine sights of goal were few and far between.

For a short time, Grimsby upped the tempo and moved the ball around quicker.

But it proved the briefest of flirtations. When City refused to buckle, the Mariners seemed to shrug their shoulders and returned to their snail's pace of the first-half to leave Fettis untroubled.

City were unable to fashion the gilt-edged opportunities of the first but still kept Coyne busy.

Richardson shot straight at the Welsh international after cutting inside, Proctor just failed to make a clean connection to Nogan's low centre and Basham headed just the wrong side of the post from another Potter in-swinger.

That the Mariners' net did not bulge after such a superb display remained the only disappointment then.

But in what is set to be a defining year - and week - for the Minstermen and their fans, it was a more than promising start to 2002.

Fact file:

Grimsby Town: Coyne, Ford, Groves, Gallimore, Chapman, Burnett, Coldicott, Willems, Butterfield, Jevons (Boulding 67m), Thompson (Jeffrey 80m).

Subs, not used: Croudson, Campbell, D Smith

Bookings: None

Sent-off: None

York City: Fettis 7, Edmondson 7, Hocking 8, Basham 8, Hobson 8, Potter 7, Brass 7 (Cooper 53m, 7), Richardson 8, Bullock 8, Nogan 8, Proctor 7

Subs, not used: Howarth, Mathie, Maley, C Smith

Bookings: Bullock 26m, Hocking 65m

Sent-off: None

Attendance: 5,052

Ref: Roger Furnandiz (Doncaster)