Report by Blackpool Gazette and photos courtesy of Ian Swaine.
Blackpool Men are celebrating their first ever cup win after lifting the Lancashire Trophy thanks to an extra-time golden goal in Preston.
They completed the most dramatic of victories over division three side Mossley Hill, who repeatedly fought back in an 11-goal classic.
Blackpool had made a superb start, leading 2-0 inside ten minutes thanks to Dave Morgan’s goal from a Dan Woodman pass and a fine finish by Steve Whitley. Shellshocked Mossley Hill gradually found their feet and pulled one back from a short corner. Blackpool’s third, from Ian Swaine, came via a similar route but again they were pegged back and had to settle for a 3-2 half-time lead.
An open second half saw Blackpool restore their two-goal cushion thanks to Whitley’s second, a shot on the rebound after Swaine’s effort was saved. Once again Mossley Hill cut the deficit and they equalised from a short corner after Blackpool keeper Nick Rainbow was sin-binned for using his stick outside the area. Blackpool were determined not to let the game slip and midfielder Kieran Harris dribbled through the middle to make it 5-4 with a shot under the keeper.
But again Mossley refused to lie down, forcing extra-time with their fifth goal. The extra 15 minutes started with Swaine in the sin-bin but Blackpool held firm.
The next goal would win it and if neither side could find the net a penalty shoot-out would decide who went home with the cup. Whitley thought he has scored the winner from Morgan’s through pass but play was brought back for an infringement.
But moments later, substitute Simon Thomas dribbled down the left to win a penalty flick which Harris converted with the coolest of heads. Blackpool had not gone into the final in the best of spirits, having seen their championship hopes dashed with a 5-1 defeat by Lymm the previous day.
Blackpool 1XI Win the Lancashire Trophy 2011
Lymm scored early from their only short corner of the first half, and it remained 1-0 at the break despite plenty of Blackpool pressure. Lymm converted their chances after the break to end Blackpool’s title hopes with three further goals. To rub salt into Blackpool’s wounds, Lymm’s final goal was scored by the brother of Blackpool player Atish Mistry. Morgan’s consolation goal, after excellent work by Swaine, was too little and definitely too late.