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Good to be back playing after 2 blank weeks, with even the mild Fylde coast too cold to play, although the Blackpool v Lytham clash almost went ahead.
Blackpool travelled with just 12 men, with Mike Thom, returning from a bad hamstring injury, starting on the bench. However it was to be South Cheshire who suffered several injuries during the match rather than Blackpool, luckily.
Blackpool started the quicker and scored from their first short corner after Dave Morgan scuffed his shot and somehow it limped past two defenders and the goalie and only just crossed the line to everyone’s amazement.
Ian Swaine scored shortly afterwards from another short corner, his shot nutmegging the keeper. He scored again after a fine run from the right by James Slater who had a 1-2 with Morgan, and then finally passed to Swaine who finished off.
Blackpool continued to play possession hockey, passing from man to man, and there was an extended period of passes which led to Swaine once again receiving the ball near goal. He dribbled past the last defender and then flicked the ball with his reverse stick past the keeper for another hat-trick.
Morgan scored a second when Jack Boniface unselfishly passed to him with only the keeper to beat after some good work in midfield had found himself in the D. 5-0 was the half-time scoreline.
Blackpool visibly relaxed in the second half, and let South Cheshire put a string of attacks together. Nick Rainbow made several key saves, which must be why he was voted Man of the Match. However, it was Blackpool who scored again after a defensive error led to Morgan scoring his own hat-trick.
There was then a long fallow period of play, when Ian Swaine was sent to the sin-bin for being naughty, Jack Boniface narrowly missed scoring, James Slater embarrassingly fluffed a shot on goal for the second time in the game, and generally the team lost its flowing style.
Mike Thom came onto the field once Swaine’s punishment had ended, and he was able to score with a sweetly struck shot after passes from Morgan and Steve Whitley.
South Cheshire managed to sneak a goal with a shot through various players eluded both keeper Nick Rainbow and also the diving defender Pete Latimer. Well actually I got a touch, so strictly it might have been an own goal once the new rules come into force next year.
Swaine came back on the pitch and managed to grab the final goal after a quickly taken free hit and some nice passing with his striking partner Morgan, with the two of them now leading the top scorers for the whole of the North West.
Final whistle and 8-1 the score, and Blackpool top for several hours until Lymm’s result came in, and what looks like a close match away at Northop Hall.
© Peter Latimer 11/12/10