Spalding United beat Grimsby Town on penalties in the Lincolnshire Senior Cup

Clinical penalty taking fired Spalding United into the semi-finals of the Lincolnshire Senior Cup on Tuesday night.

The Tulips netted all of their spot kicks in the 5-3 shoot-out success over League Two side Grimsby Town at the Sir Halley Stewart ground.

Spalding had twice led during the 90 minutes before a strong Mariners side snatched a last-gasp equaliser to level the contest at 3-3 and send the tie to penalties.

Manager Elliot Sandy had made a number of changes to his starting line-up for the quarter-final clash and was delighted at the show of strength in depth.

He said: "It was about using our squad for this game and showing how good it is.

"The lads who came in were fantastic and their work-rate was excellent because some of these lads haven't had the minutes that they want but they've stuck with it.

"We've got that real togetherness and team spirit and they want to fight for that shirt, for the club and their team-mates."

Sandy, Sam Cartwright, Kyle Barker, Joe Curtis, James Clifton, Tyler Winters and James Snedden all came back into the fray for the match as Spalding made seven changes from the weekend win at AFC Rushden & Diamonds.

Grimsby included a number of their first team squad with Luke Waterfall, Danny Amos, Michee Efete, Kieran Green, Callum Ainley, Aaron Braithwaite, Evan Khouri, Otis Khan and goalkeeper Jake Eastwood among those featuring.

Braithwaite brought an early save out of home goalkeeper Tony Breeden before Clifton floated a long range effort wide of the Grimsby goal.

Spalding then took the lead after 29 minutes when Clifton's initial shot was saved by Eastwood with Winters rifling home the rebound.

However, the lead lasted just eight minutes as Spalding initially cleared a corner which found its way back to Ainley and the former Crewe Alexandra midfielder crossed for Cameron Gardner who teed up Efete to tap home.

The visitors then took the lead for the first time seven minutes into the second half with former Norwich City youngster Efete netting his second of the game as he fired past Breeden from Khouri's pass after a tidy move.

However, Spalding were level again within three minutes as Winters pounced to net another close range finish after Stacey Freeman's shot had been deflected into his path.

Spalding then made a raft of changes with Riley O'Sullivan creating and scoring the third goal shortly after his arrival to put the Tulips back in front after 78 minutes.

The Tulips substitute was brought down in the penalty area and he picked himself up to convert the resultant spot kick.

This sparked a strong spell of Grimsby pressure late on as they forced a flurry of corners which saw Breeden tip several setpieces to safety.

However, from the third successive corner kick, the ball broke for Harvey Tomlinson to rifle in a 90th minute leveller for the visitors and take the tie to penalties.

Spalding got off to a perfect start with Jordan Graham converting the first spot kick and then Tomlinson replied for the Mariners.

Sam Warburton and Grimsby's Amos were both successful with the next spot kicks before Callum Westwood converted for Spalding.

Breeden then made a fine save from Jamie Andrews with O'Sullivan scoring Spalding's next penalty to put the Tulips in control.

Although Khan converted Grimsby's fourth penalty, Lewis Hilliard hit home the decisive spot kick to send Spalding into the semi-finals where they join Boston United, Scunthorpe United and Cleethorpes Town.

Spalding: Breeden, Draper, Warburton, Sandy, Cartwright, Freeman, Barker, Curtis, Clifton, Winters, Snedden. Subs: Stainfield, Westwood, Hilliard, O'Sullivan, Graham, Sweeney. Attendance: 222.