WALSALL
MacGillivray; Edwards, McCarthy, Preston, Cockerill-Mollett; Kinsella, Dobson, Kouhyar; Morris, Bakayoko, Oztumer
SUBSTITUTES | Hallwood; K.Roberts, Tonks, Sangha, Ginnelly, Shorrock, Peters
GRIMSBY TOWN
McKeown, Andrew, Pearson, Boyce, Gowling, Mills, Summerfield, Disley, Venney, Vernon, Bogle
Warrington, Chambers, Vose, Clifton, Bolarinwa, Wright
The match, which was played in front of largely empty stands as the majority of supporters made their point known, saw some early goal action as Grimsby took the lead in the fifth minute via Andrew Boyce, the central defender slotting home following a Luke Summerfield free-kick.
Walsall levelled the scores after eighteen minutes as Amadou Bakayoko, who was found in space by Erhun Oztumer, sent a deflected effort over Grimsby 'keeper James McKeown, the former Saddler unable to react as the ball found the back of the net.
The Saddlers went into the lead with just over five minutes of the first half remaining as Liam Kinsella fed Bakayoko, who cooly slotted the ball past the 'keeper.
Amadou went on to complete his hat-trick just before half time as he wonderfully controlled the ball, turned his marker and slammed the ball home, a superb finish in his first competitive start for the Saddlers.
EFL TROPHY - NORTHERN GROUP H | HALF-TIME
WALSALL 3 GRIMSBY TOWN 1
Walsall further extended their lead just after the hour mark as Kieron Morris tapped home following nice play between Oztumer and Joe Edwards.
Grimsby pulled a goal back six minutes later as Tom Bolarinwa's left-wing cross was met by Summerfield, who prodded the ball past Craig MacGillivray, who was making his first start of the 2016/17 campaign.
The Saddlers hit their fifth goal of the game with under twenty minutes of normal time remaining as Maziar Kouhyar bagged his first professional goal. The young midfielder was found by an Edwards long-ball, he then made space before firing past the 'keeper.
A good display for the Saddlers as they look forward to an international break before returning to league action against Northampton Town on Saturday, 10th September.
Grimsby pulled a goal back six minutes later as Tom Bolarinwa's left-wing cross was met by Summerfield, who prodded the ball past Craig MacGillivray, who was making his first start of the 2016/17 campaign.
The Saddlers hit their fifth goal of the game with under twenty minutes of normal time remaining as Maziar Kouhyar bagged his first professional goal. The young midfielder was found by an Edwards long-ball, he then made space before firing past the 'keeper.
A good display for the Saddlers as they look forward to an international break before returning to league action against Northampton Town on Saturday, 10th September.
EFL TROPHY - NORTHERN GROUP H | RESULT
WALSALL 5 GRIMSBY TOWN 2
GOALS | Bakayoko (19', 39, 43'), Morris (61'), Kouhyar (71') - Boyce (5'), Summerfield (67')
ATTENDANCE | 1,022 (66 Grimsby Town)