GRIMSBY TOWN needed a late goal to overcome Royal Racing FC Montegnee last night.

The students from Belgium's lowest professional league caused Coca-Cola League Two side Grimsby all sorts of problems at Barnstaple's Mill Road.

But Jamie Clarke curled home a late free-kick to clinch a 1-0 win and send Royal Racing out of the Errea South West Challenge Cup.

Midfielder Clarke told the Grimsby Telegraph: "I think the lads were starting to get worried the game was going to go to penalties.

"It was perfect timing because it didn't give them time to recover.

"It's one in one for free-kicks now — if I can keep that rate up over the season I'll be happy!"

Royal Racing's cosmopolitan mix of young players forced new Grimsby goalkeeper Nick Colgan, signed this week on a free transfer from Sunderland, into a number of saves.

When Danny Williams rounded Colgan on eight minutes, Rob Atkinson had to clear his effort off the line.

Williams then stretched Republic of Ireland international Colgan, the keeper tipping the ball round the post.

Grimsby improved as the half went on, Chris Jones shooting wide, Nick Hegarty having a free-kick cleared off the line and Danny Boshell shooting narrowly off target.

Royal Racing had held Yeovil Town to 1-0 at half-time in the Group B opener on Monday but buckled after the break to go down 5-0.

It was a different story last night, although they had a let-off when Barry Conlon, one of 10 half-time substitutes for Grimsby, struck the post within a minute.

Danny North, Adrian Forbes and Conlon all missed the target with headers as the match appeared to be heading to a penalty shoot-out.

But when Forbes was brought down two minutes from time, Clarke bent his free-kick home.

Colgan was named man of the match.

Grimsby meet Yeovil at Torrington's Vicarage Field tomorrow night (7pm) with the prize of a semi-final against Blackpool or Rushden and Diamonds at stake.