The team arrived at Lymm, reminiscing the drubbing they had the last time the teams met and struggled with the first challenge of finding the changing rooms. Once on the pitch they started their 5 minute warm up and some cobwebs needed dusting off.
Motivational speech given, after a quick discussion on what is the fashionable way to wear your shirt, the starting 11 took to the field. Usual Blackpool start of blinded by the headlights, led to some initial pressures on the Blackpool goal, once the eyes had adapted to the lights, the start of a 20 minute purple patch of hockey ensued by Blackpool Hockey, the likes of which not seen since 1986 England V Germany at Deepdale, led to goals by Jordan Payne, Dave Morgan and even Ian Swaine wobbled in the D for a goal. Confidence high, Blackpool players changed mode and from fluid passing and moving, came ball carrying and turnover – the last 10 minutes seeing calm composure turn into turmoil as Lymm pressed higher and challenged harder in the midfield. The half time whistle was like a release of trapped wind – a great relief.
The second half did not start well, within 2 minutes, a misplaced pass led to an overload, a slip by Rob Abbott at the back, left Mortimer isolated and a tap in for Lymm’s centre forward. Lymm’s pressure continued over the next 15 minutes, pressing and moving the ball around quickly, leading to a flurry of short corners. Eventually the pressure told and despite some miracle saves throughout the game from keeper Rainbow, Lymm got a second. Bizarely, this seemed to settle the Blackpool heads and a little more composure drifted back in. It still remained a fairly scrappy half with both teams gifting the other possession and both forward lines missing out. In the last few seconds, Lymm drove towards the D with Abbott tracking back, as the Lymm player was about to unleash his open shot, Abbott reached in to pick the ball onto the attackers foot, a free hit out to Blackpool instantly followed by the full time whistle a much relieved Blackpool held on for the 3 points but proving complacency has no place in sport.