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Blackpool Men’s First team finished off their season with an impressive fifth straight victory in a 5-2 win over Mossley Hill, but ultimately failed to gain promotion by just a single point.
With several Blackpool regulars unable to make the meet time, Blackpool’s make shift starting line-up struggled to get a grip of the game in humid conditions at Stanley Park. After a couple of scares at the back, Blackpool took the lead through David Morgan after ten minutes. As the late-comers arrived, Blackpool began to dominate the game and quickly doubled their lead after a series of rebounded shots of the Mossley Hill goalkeeper fell to Ian Swaine who smashed the ball into the net.
In the second half Blackpool started slowly, and Mossley Hill found a way back into the game after converting a penalty corner. This jump started Blackpool back into life, and they put together their best spell of the match, producing two more goals. Firstly Swaine got his second after James Slater had found space down the right hand side and slipped the striker in. Man of the match Slater was involved again in the build up for the fourth where he and Steve Whitley exchanged passes from a long corner to glide through the Mossley defence before the division’s top scorer Dave Morgan swept in his 36th league goal of the campaign. With a three goal cushion, and the job almost done, Blackpool again switched off, and Mossley Hill scored a second penalty corner. The game was eventually put to bed as Swaine found the net again to complete his hatrick.
However, the win wasn’t to be enough for Blackpool as Lymm picked up a victory away to South Lakes to pip Blackpool to second place and gain promotion to Division 2.