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All Whites goalkeeper Max Crocombe is “gutted” that his FA Cup fairy tale ended after fourth division Grimsby Town were beaten 5-0 by Premier League Brighton on Sunday (Monday PT). New Zealand).

The two-cap All White had high hopes of another upset after Grimsby, the lowest-ranked team remaining in the competition, had knocked out first-division side Southampton in the last round.

It was Grimsby’s first quarter-final appearance since 1939, but any hope of a semi-final appearance was snuffed out in the sixth minute at Brighton’s Amex Stadium.

Crocombe, 29, saved a stinging shot but could only deflect it towards Brighton’s Deniz Undav, who fired past the home team in front.

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Republic of Ireland international Evan Ferguson, 18, scored twice after half-time, with Solly March and Kaoru Mitoma completing the rout.

Crocombe received a rating of six out of 10 players from the Grimsby Live website, which said the goalkeeper “could possibly have done better with Brighton’s opening goal. He couldn’t have done much with the goals that followed, but he did pull off a series of good saves to keep the score down.”

Crocombe later tweeted that he was “heartbroken by today’s game but what a ride it has been for us in the FA Cup this year. Very proud of everyone for making it this far, thank you so much for all the support.”

Ranked 15th in League Two, Grimsby is a fishing port based in north-east Lincolnshire.

Around 5,000 Grimsby fans, many brandishing inflatable Harry Haddock fish, made the 761km round trip to Brighton to support their team.

Brighton will play the winner of the match later on Sunday between Manchester United and Fulham.

sheffield steel

Meanwhile, Manchester City prospect Tommy Doyle led Sheffield United to the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday only to learn later that he will have to miss the biggest game of his young career.

The 21-year-old midfielder is on loan at Sheffield and, due to competition rules, is unable to play against his parent club after Manchester City and Sheffield met in the next round.

It means Doyle, the grandson of Manchester City’s recent FA Cup winners Glyn Pardoe and Mike Doyle, will be a spectator at the match at Wembley, when Premier League champions City will be favorites to advance to the final. .

Doyle scored in the first minute of second half stoppage time as Sheffield beat Blackburn Rovers 3-2 in a thrilling quarter-final clash between the two second-tier teams.

Blackburn had twice taken the lead through Ben Brereton and Sammie Szmodics.

Own goal by Sam Gallagher and Oliver McBurnie leveled the scores on each occasion before Doyle’s final goal.

But he barely had time to enjoy his celebrations before learning that Sheffield had been drawn against City.

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