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Blackpool took time to settle on a slow sandy pitch in the middle of Manchester, and weren’t quite ready for the physical game that Trinity play. In fact a goal was conceded early on after what seemed like several instances of foul play, but Trinity’s persistence paid off.
There were also another couple of blows to Blackpool, when Dan Woodman took a deflected ball smack bang on his nose. With blood dripping he was forced to leave the pitch and was worried about a broken nose. Atish Mistry replaced him, but he also took a blow to the ankle when Joe Boniface hit a clearance right at him. He was able to carry on for a while, until Woodman had been patched up sufficiently by loyal supporter Mitch Blakemore.
Blackpool had to rely on their star dribblers Kieran Harris and Ian Swaine to get back into the game, and Swaine struck the equalising goal. This was followed up by Harris dribbling and shooting just before the D, and Jack Boniface was able to kiss the ball with his stick so that the strike became a legal goal.
Jack Boniface was also instrumental in setting up the third goal with some good work down the right wing, with the cross beating Trinity’s keeper for Steve Whitley to convert easily.
Trinity didn’t give up and kept attacking with force, and scored again much to the annoyance of the Blackpool defence, Nick Rainbow in particular. This was because the ball that was crossed into the D had clearly hit a Trinity foot, but hadn’t been spotted by the umpire, making it bobble in the D, which last defender Pete Latimer misjudged leaving the Trinity striker to score a relatively easy goal.
Blackpool dominated the second half and increased the pressure on Trinity. Kieran Harris drag flicked from a short corner to devastating effect to increase the lead to 4-2.
Blackpool had several chances from short corners and it was a while until Harris drag-flicked again for it to be saved, Woodman struck the rebound only for it to hit the post, but Steve Whitley was there for the strike that finally scored.
Ian Swaine caused all sorts of problems with his dribbling and was constantly fouled. Finally the umpires had had enough when he was fouled just short of the D, and awarded a penalty stroke. Swaine was insistent on taking it, despite his last stroke being saved, but he dispacthed this one cleanly for a final score of 6-2.
Next week brings local rivals Lytham St Annes to Stanley Park, for what should be a cracking game, especially as they recently beat Carlisle and only just lost to Lymm.
© Peter Latimer 21/11/10