Blackpool 2s secured their second win of the season in a competitive yet comfortable performance running out 4-1 winners away at West Derby 2s.
Blackpool started slowly with West Derby putting the pressure on early resulting in a short corner, where a well struck bobbly shot managed to beat goalkeeper Graeme Kilshaw. But Blackpool heads did not drop, reacting in fine fashion, attacking quickly with precise passing down the wings from Harrison Stott, Chris Hocking and Paul Atherton. Ollie Thomlinson also blitzed the wing with pace and skilful dribbling. Alas, Blackpool’s first half attacks came to no avail, going in at half time 1-0 down.
In the second half Blackpool came out all guns blazing with West Derby struggling to cope with the barrage of attacks. The first breakthrough came with a sublime bit of skill from Hocking; having beat two or three players at the top of the D he struck the ball sweetly into the bottom corner, 1-1. Blackpool kept their foot on the gas keeping the opposition penned in their half and a short corner was won by the young gun, man of the match, Will Pickles. The away side, as they have on so many occasions already at the start of this season, were to make this count as a one-two between Hocking and Adam George resulted in a calm finish by the latter to put Blackpool into the lead. A short while later some scrappy defending from West Derby left Blackpool with a penalty flick. Mike Sharp stepped forward and buried it into the middle right of the net to extend the Tangerine’s lead. At 3-1 down West Derby now had to throw men forward leaving them vulnerable at the back which played perfectly into the pacey attacks of the away side. A break from Niall Bancroft through the middle brought about a two-on-one situation with George running up in support. The defender had to commit to allow Bancroft the chance to slip the ball to George which at first glance looked to be an easy clearance from the keeper, but George managed to touch it round him leaving it to roll into the goal.
Man of the Match for an excellent performance from Will Pickles on debut and 4-1 win for another stellar performance from Blackpool’s second team..