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After having lost to Ormskirk in the 1st round of the cup 2 years ago, Blackpool were determined not to make the same mistake twice. Despite Orsmkirk playing two divisions below Blackpool, they have risen through the ranks and are a strong team unit with several skillful players.
Blackpool, however, have a much stronger squad than two years ago, and even without the injured Boniface brothers were able to put out a strong team who are scoring for fun and difficult to score against.
The first ten minutes or so was a tight affair, with Ormskirk battling for every ball and not allowing Blackpool their usual midfield passing play. They even had several dangerous attacks with keeper Nick Rainbow making an early vital save when faced with a one on one.
Gradually Blackpool took control and Ian Swaine was the first to strike with his usual precision. Then Kieran Harris delivered a high velocity flick at a short corner which hit the defender situated on the post and rebounded into the net for a 2-0 lead.
Blackpool then started to pass the ball with patience and control, across the back 4, down the wings, and to the strikers. One of these very moves led James Slater to cross and find Dave Morgan in front of goal ready to open his goal scoring account.
Another move, started from the back by captain Rob Abbott, led to Morgan giving the killer pass to Swaine to finish off and make the score 4-0. Morgan scored again from a well rehearsed short corner before half-time and at 5-0 down Ormskirk’s spirit was well and truly crushed.
It took a while for Blackpool to score again in the second half, but it was Morgan who completed his hat-trick after a pass from Steve Whitley.
Blackpool were well and truly on top, enjoying themselves, and kept possession well. Defender Craig Brookes tried to get involved in the goal scoring action with some clever runs down the left and could even have scored was it not for Steve Whitley getting in the way and fluffing the shot on goal.
The 7th Blackpool goal should go down in history. Ian Swaine picked up the ball by the left hand corner, dribbled into the D with the ball finishing on his reverse side, so he turned his stick, gave it a back lift and struck the ball with such force that it flew into the top corner of the net without the Ormskirk keeper having time to move. The crowd cheered, a round of applause went round the ground, and even the Ormskirk forwards had to acknowledge the beauty and magnificence of the shot.
The final whistle blew as Blackpool had won a short corner. According to the rules, they are allowed to take the corner, so up came the defence of Brookes, Latimer and Mistry to help out, but of no need as Morgan and Dan Woodman combined to great effect for Morgan’s 4th of the day and a final score of 8-0.
Mention must also go to sub Simon Thomas who following two goals and a man of the match performance the previous day for the 2nd team, came on in the second half. His first touch was very nearly to score, but alas it was not to be.
Kieran Harris was voted Man of the Match, despite the two hat-trick heroes, and we now await either of Warrington or Golborne in the next round.
© Peter Latimer