Dutch destroyers Robert Molenaar and Jimmy Hasselbaink killed off Grimsby's
hopes of a giantkilling hat-trick to send Leeds into the last 16 of the FA Cup.
Alan Buckley's Second Division high-fliers had already dumped Sheffield
Wednesday and Leicester out of the Coca-Cola Cup this season and after a surging
run up the league, the Mariners had high hopes of adding to their list of
Premiership scalps.
George Graham's side were perhaps ripe for the picking after managing just one
win in their last seven top flight matches to jeopardise their hopes of a place
in next season's UEFA Cup.
The United boss, however, could now look for an alternative route into Europe
via the Cup Winners' Cup after his side scraped past Grimsby at Elland Road to
ease his fears of a major Cup upset.
It took the man known as 'the Terminator' to seek out Grimsby's susceptibility
at corners and score with a towering header from six yards past keeper Aidan
Davison in the first minute of first-half injury-time.
The goal eased the growing pressure on Leeds, which had built during a tense
opening 45 minutes in which chances were few and far between.
It should have been Grimsby who took the lead in the 10th minute when
midfielder David Smith, a delight down the left flank with some neat movement
and touches, curled a teasing ball across the edge of Leeds' penalty area.
United's three-man central defence seemed to stand off and watch the cross
drift in front of them, allowing Kevin Donovan to charge into the box, but his
first time right-foot drive from 15 yards flashed past the post.
Molenaar, a £1million signing from Volendam just over a year ago, then had
Leeds' first real chance just before the half hour when his six-yard shot was
superbly blocked by Smith after David Wetherall had headed Gary Kelly's corner
back across goal.
United skipper David Hopkins' 35th-minute half-volley forced Davison into one
of his many outstanding saves during the game, before David Robertson was in the
right place to block Steve Livingstone's goalbound flick.
But Molenaar's third goal this season and his fourth since his move gave Leeds
the confidence to control the second half in which the visitors' only chance
came in the 56th minute when Wetherall nearly steered a Donovan right-wing cross
beyond Nigel Martyn.
The tie was nearly killed off in the opening seven minutes as Davison superbly
saved a Hasselbaink 25-yard free kick, while the £2million summer signing from
Boavista and Hopkin both shaved the woodwork with searing right-foot shots.
Molenaar and Hasselbaink then saw headers both go narrowly over, before the
striker finally killed the game off in the 79th minute with a delightful goal.
Australian international Harry Kewell set up Hasselbaink, who then took on two
defenders before steering a right-foot shot inside Davison's left-hand post to
become United's leading goalscorer with 11 strikes.
In the closing minutes Leeds could have added to their tally but Davison made
a superb sprawling save in front of Hasselbaink, while Rod Wallace struck the
left-hand post with a superb shot on the turn.
Leeds: Martyn, Kelly, Wetherall, Molenaar, Robertson, Wallace,
Bowyer, Hopkin, Ribeiro, Hasselbaink, Kewell.
Subs Not Used: Lilley, Halle, Jackson, McPhail, Beeney.
Booked: Ribeiro, Hopkin.
Goals: Molenaar 45, Hasselbaink 79.
Grimsby: Davison, McDermott, Lever, Handyside, Gallimore,
Donovan, Groves, Jobling (Clare 58), Smith, Livingstone, Black.
Subs Not Used: Rodger, Butterfield, Wrack, Pearcey.
Booked: Livingstone, Lever.
Att: 29,598
Ref: G P Barber (Woking).
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