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In a fixture revisited from 2 years ago, Blackpool travelled on Sunday to Bury in the first round of the Lancashire Trophy. Two years ago Blackpool won this fixture 16-0, so anticipation was high for another productive afternoon for the Blackpool front-line. Wright stating in the warm up that he fully expected to score more times today than Danny Woodman in a Ayia Napa nightclub!
Blackpool started well, if a little sluggishly, but it was quite apparent they were never going to be stretched much by a time languishing seven divisions lower than them in the league structure, and inevitably after seven minutes Blackpool had indeed taken the lead through Whitley.
Bury undeterred then countered almost immediately and scored one of the sloppiest goals this reporter has witnessed for some time. Were Blackpool taking this team too lightly? Well no, as this appeared to galvanize the Blackpool side into the well drilled unit it can be on occasion, with constant pressure leading to a short corner duly converted by Whitley again!
The first half continued in much the same vein with attack after attack being either thwarted by a combination of a much improved Bury defence and some extremely sloppy finishing……. Morgan should have been charged with GBH he hit the keeper that many times!
In the second half this theme continued with Slater, Goudie, Blacow, Wright, Whitley and Woodman all combining well to play some exquisite attacking hockey. By this time 5-1 up (hat-trick from Whitley and a brace by Morgan) Blackpool were coasting and now into show-boating mode, which lead to Bury’s late consolation. A terrible pass from Abbott to the taller of the Boniface twins (Jody) lead to him being robbed of the ball by the Bury striker who calmly finished beyond a diving Kilshaw.
A late individual run down the left by the smaller Boniface (Jane) nearly lead to a sixth, but it was not to be.
In conclusion the team did the job required without ever really getting out of second gear. Oh and Wright’s failure to score was a poor comparison to the skill of Woodman in an Ayia Nappa nightclub.
(c) Liam Morrow 1/10/07 (with some editing)