|
||||||
The first of several 6-pointers between the Div 3 promotion rivals began with Lymm travelling to Blackpool for an early midday start. Lymm were desperate for a win as Blackpool had beaten them convincingly during the autumn, following their joint promotion from Div 4 last season.
Lymm started by far the stronger and had short corner after short corner. Blackpool’s defence held firm with Nick Rainbow making several key saves and Pete Latimer making another goal-line clearance putting his body* on the line. However eventually a well worked slip routine to their top scoring striker made the breakthrough.
Blackpool found the first half hard going, with some sloppy passing and misjudged dribbling. The counter attacks were rare and there was only a solitary short corner, which misfired.
After a bollocking at half-time Blackpool put more effort into the second half, and started making chances. However Lymm were still making dangerous breaks and more short corners. Their trademark move was being blocked but instead they manage to flick the ball diagonally into the roof of the net from the top of the D.
Blackpool hit back with their own short corner where James Slater fed Dave Morgan, to take his tally for the season to 31, 7 ahead of the next best in the division.
At 2-1 down, Blackpool felt back in the game, however disaster struck minutes later when Lymm score again when a free hit outside the D was cleverly deflected by a striker, with the ball flying into the back of the net, past the despairing dive of Nick Rainbow.
Blackpool didn’t give up, and another attack led to Kieran Harris crossing the ball from the right, which the Lymm keeper parried, only for Ian Swaine to pounce on and perform a perfect reverse sweep shot into the netting to bring Blackpool back to 2-3.
Blackpool were in the ascendancy at the end, but it was too late, and Lymm celebrated the win and their continued push for promotion.
With 5 games now lost, even if Blackpool win their last 5 games, they may well be dependent on other results going their way. However they are sure to make a decisive impact on the promotion race, with a trip to Morecambe next week and Keswick having to visit Stanley Park in the 2nd last game. Beware the wounded beast that is Blackpool!
(c) Peter Latimer 18/2/12
* since been discovered that it resulted in a fracture of the hand involved