Slough player-manager Scott Davies was proud of his players despite their 7-2 FA Cup first-round replay defeat at the hands of League Two opponents Grimsby.

For an hour of the game the Rebels were well in the tie at Blundell Park, but once the Mariners were able to get back ahead, there was no looking back.

There was disappointment from Davies after the game that the cup run was over and that the game had ended in such a fashion, but he also spoke with pride as he reflected on his team’s journey.

He said: “I’m extremely proud of how far we’ve come – Hayes and Yeading, Salisbury, Ebbsfleet and then taking Grimsby to a replay.

“For 60 minutes I didn’t think there was much in the game, but the manner of the defeat in the end looks bad.

“I don’t think the final score represents the performance. I think, for the first 20 minutes of the second half, we were absolutely brilliant and I thought the goal was going to come and when we didn’t get it, it is obviously a big disappointment.

“I’m immensely proud of lads still but I was disappointed in the manner of some of the goals we conceded because I think there were a few of us that gave up.

“There was emotion in the end in knowing the cup run was over and that bled in towards the end of the game.”

For Grimsby, the search for a complete performance goes on for interim bosses Shaun Pearson and Ben Davies, but back-to-back victories is a good response to their poor display in the first game against Slough.

Pearson said: “That was probably the least one-sided 7-2 ever. It was a really tough challenge, but we knew it would be going into the game anyway because Slough have been on a good run of scoring goals.

“We know from last season from being on the underdog side of these types of games that it’s not always easy as the bigger team to go out and win, but we’re pleased to win in the end.

“We’re pleased with a lot of things – the fact we’ve scored seven goals is obviously the big positive and some of our attacking play was brilliant.

“We didn’t have control of the game at the start of the second half but we put bodies on the line and that’s what you have to do sometimes.”

Grimsby fought through an end-to-end first half to beat sixth-tier Slough 7-2 in their FA Cup first-round replay at Blundell Park.

The Mariners opened the scoring in the seventh minute as Arthur Gnahoua’s deflected effort on the edge of the Slough area fell to Rekeil Pyke to finish neatly.

Slough went two down in the 16th minute, with Danny Rose diving in to finish off a corner that was flicked on at the near post.

The Rebels pulled a goal back in the 19th minute – Tyrese Dyce heading in at close range – and Grimsby’s lead was completely erased in the 33rd minute by David Ogbonna.

The hosts restored their advantage in the 45th minute as Pyke headed in from six yards and they then added a fourth goal in the 65th minute through Gnahoua.

Alex Hunt came off the bench for Grimsby to remove any doubt of victory for his side as he finished off a nice team move in the 79th minute.

Gnahoua set up the fifth and scored the sixth six minutes later from a similar position, shortly followed by a seventh from Jamie Andrews.