Blackpool, still smarting from a heavy defeat last week were keen to put on a show. With a much
stronger line up than the previous week, Blackpool started brightly and with Hayden and Ciaran
giving some fantastic attacking options, and strong midfield play from Tyler, Toby, Ollie, Harrison
and Keiffer, Blackpool duly opened the scoring with a well-worked hockey goal that Hayden tucked
away. Although the opposition were playing without a goal keeper, they had a very strong, well
organised defensive line and were always a threat to Blackpool. The Blackpool defensive line,
which consisted of Megan, Ellie, Ashley and a loaning from the opposition called Owen, snuffed out
everything the opposition had to throw at them. When they were beaten, the reliable keeper Luke
was dominant and made his presence felt with a commanding display of goal keeping in the first
quarter. Both sides played some lovely hockey and it was an evenly contested first quarter, but
Blackpool shaded it to be leading 1-0.
The second quarter started just as brightly for Blackpool and they scored a wonderful second goal
which was played from the back by Megan, young Tyler then controlled the ball well with a sweet
little turn, evading his marker and playing a clever ball to Ciaran, who in turn, with some fantastic
expertise put a defence splitting pass through the Morecambe defensive line for Hayden to have an
easy finish, making the score 2-0. As the second quarter went on, the opposition came more into
the game creating themselves opportunities. These were thwarted by Blackpool playing as a team,
with both attackers and defenders coming back to support in defence. Yet again another wonderful
hockey goal, which started from a clearance in the Blackpool defensive line, worked its way up to
Harrison and Ciaran. Hayden again found some space to make the score 3-0. Again the opposition
came steaming forward and despite creating two good opportunities, the Blackpool defensive held
firm until half time, to have a very respectful 3-0 half time advantage.
The third quarter started as the Blackpool coach had told his players it would. The home team would
not lie down and be defeated and came out all guns blazing. Blackpool were slow and sluggish to
stop wave after wave of opening attacks by the Lancaster & Morecambe squad, and the pressure
payed off with the scoring the first goal of the third quarter. From then on the quarter was filled
with continuous attack from the opposition. Blackpool dug in and put in a performance with
players switching positions to help counter-balance what the opposition were bringing. Lancaster &
Morecambe dominated this quarter and Blackpool did well to keep the score at 3-1.
A quick pep talk and words of encouragement from coach, captain and players alike, gave a rallying
cry for the third quarter. Unfortunately just like the previous quarter, it was wave upon wave of
pressure form the home team. Yet again, Blackpool worked hard as a team, supporting each other
and with 6 outstanding saves in this quarter alone, Blackpool stopped the home team scoring again
and came away with a valuable and memorable 3-1 victory against a very strong home side.
Due to Luke’s final quarter heroics in net, he deservedly won the man of the match award. However
it was an outstanding effort from the whole squad.