Blackpool hosted Wigan Mens 1st on a mild autumn day with Captain Rainbow making the shock decision to bench defensive stalwart Rob Abbott and start with a new centre back line up of O’hara and Ben Mortimer for the 1st time this season.
With a record breaking turn out of supporters, Blackpool started well and the first 10 minutes were played completely in Wigan’s half. With the level of pressure being placed on the Wigan defense, it wasn’t long before Blackpool scored the 1st goal. Great work by Whitley saw him reach the top of Wigan’s D where he slipped the ball to Morgan who spun on the ball and placed the ball in the bottom left of Wigan’s goal. Blackpool continued to attack and Morgan got his second form a cross from Boyne, poking the ball under the advancing keeper for his second. Wigan then started to get a grip on the game and the game became more end to end. However, This resulted in Blackpool being able to counter attack and finally led to Swaine getting on the score sheet with a cheeky reverse stick flick over the diving keeper to the bottom corner.
Rob Abbott finally entered the field and showed his flexibility playing first left back and then moving up to left half and playing some good link up play with Simon Thomas and Dan Woodman. Thomas, Whitley and JJ continued to dominate the midfield and Blackpool should have reached halftime with a much higher goal tally but poor final passes, shots and good saves from the Wigan keeper, meant Blackpool could not add any further goals
Despite being 3 nil up at halftime, Captain Rainbow had hard words for the team and asked for more accurate passing and better movement in the second half. The players took on the Captains words on board and the passing and movement improved. Morgan bagged his hat trick within 5 minutes of the restart, scoring from close range following a good work from Sam Bury and Jordan Payne
Good use of substitutions keep Blackpool fresh and Morgan bagged his 4th goal from a great ball form Rob Abbott (now playing centre back), Morgan neatly deflected the ball but the keeper saved, however the rebound went straight back to Morgan who made no mistake with a reverse stick shot high in to the net. Further attacks continued and Josh Boyne was unfortunate to have his goal ruled out as both umpire missed his slight deflection on the ball. Man of the Match Morgan then scored his 5th goals and Blackpool’s 6th, Dec O’hara with a pin point ball into the D to Morgan who’s initial shot was again saved by the keeper, but Morgan pounced on the rebound and found the back board.
Ian Swaine then got back on the score sheet, receiving the ball at the top of the D from Bury, he feigned one way, then the other and finally, like a ballerina pirouetted on the spot and smashed a shot into the bottom left of the goal. Morgan then thought he had scored his double hat trick, robbing the defender in the D before finding the net, however the umpire cruelly disallowed the goal for a stick tackle.
The game finished 7 – 0 with Blackpool looking for more goals, However Captain Rainbow still was not satisfied with the result and asked for more effort in what will be a tough game away to Colwyn Bay next Saturday.
Credit should go to Wigan for the spirit in which they played throughout the game