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Blackpool 2nd XI made the away trip to face Bramhall 3rd XI in Stockport. Captain Matt Bancroft handed club debuts to James Buckley and Robert Cain with also a number of up and coming younger players getting there chance to prove they should be in the mix for selection this season.
The match got underway and Blackpool were immediately under pressure from Bramhall in which they managed to force three short corners in a row which Blackpool managed to defend and keep the score at 0-0. Bramhall kept this pressure up and it paid off with two quick consecutive goals to put Blackpool two nil down. Blackpool were playing a 4-3-2-1 formation which didn’t seem to be having much affect as no width was available so Blackpool reverted back to the trusted 4-4-2 system which seemed to bring Blackpool back into the game. Blackpool saw more of the ball and started to string a few passes together and managed to win a short corner which could have been given as a penalty flick as the Goalkeeper seem to bring down the Blackpool player. Blackpool scored there only goal of the game with a well worked short corner routine between Paul Atherton, Steven Whitley and Michael Ashfield with Ashfield putting the ball in the back of the net.
Blackpool conceded four more goals in the second half but the score line didn’t really seem to do Blackpool any justice as a great display from James Slater in the second half saw him attacking the right wing numerous times giving the Bramhall defence the run around. Blackpool forced short corners with one of them resulting in Martin Hayes flick being saved off the line and the rebound falling to Steven Whitley only for it to come back off the post. The score ended 6-1 to Bramhall, with Matt Bancroft tasting his first defeat as Captain but many positives to take away with and work on for the season. Next Saturday sees the Tangerines travel to Wigan.
SQUAD: KILSHAW, BANCROFT ©, DEAN, CAIN, JONES, ATHERTON P, BUCKLEY, WHITLEY, ASHFIELD, LYNCH, HAYES, SLATER, MORGAN, ATHERTON M, CURREY, ROWE
Paul Atherton ® 03/09/2008