|
||||||
Following the 2nd team’s hard fought draw against their Carlisle equivalents, which clinched their own promotion, the 1st team faced Carlisle 1st’s relaxed in the knowledge that they had already been promoted several weeks ago.
They played without fear (perhaps also because their strict disciplinarian captain was away watching rugby in Dublin) and ended up controlling the game in almost every aspect.
The team played like they had at the start of the season, passing and moving, and playing as a team, interchanging positions safe in the knowledge that they could trust each other.
Pete Latimer started the move for the first goal when intercepting a pass to a Carlisle forward, he set Steve Whitley off down the left wing, and after some neat dribbling, he found Ian Swaine in the centre of the D. He controlled the ball, took his time, and swivelled round to shoot straight under the keeper – his 2nd nutmeg in 2 weeks!
Another defender, the devilishly handsome Joe Boniface, started the build up to the second goal as he unleashed Steve Whitley, captain for the day, who was obviously inspired, as he yet again dribbled past several Carlisle players, and shot as soon as he entered the D with devastating effect.
Dave Morgan scored the third, when his pass across the goal was luckily deflected in. Kieran Harris was unlucky not to score when his shot hit the post, after a nice feed by Morgan.
Morgan followed up with his second, and the team’s fourth of the match, after the break after a pass from Jack Boniface. Morgan’s hat-trick came as he followed up with the rebound from a save to Jack Boniface’s initial shot.
Steve Whitley was all over the pitch, leading by example and possibly auditioning for next season when Rob Abbott steps down? He made another superb run down the left wing and crossed perfectly for James Slater who had run in from his right wing, and he made no mistake for his fourth goal in the last three games.
Slater returned the supply with a perfect cross from his right flank which Morgan converted from the p-spot for his fourth of the game and his 31st league goal in this record breaking season.
This is the same total as Ian Swaine, who could easily have scored several more goals himself, or even laid off the ball for others to shoot. He was given the man of the macth award for his skillful dribbling, and there is now only the final game next week to decide both the team and division’s top scorer.
With all the attention on scoring, it would be remiss to mention that Carlisle to their credit never gave up, and had several attempts which kept Blackpool’s defence on their toes. Nick Rainbow was a rock in goal as usual, and he had the usual strong backline of Brookes, Latimer and Boniface, with the wizard Mistry also joining in and using his long staff to ward off any attacks.
There was one last ditch scramble near the end where Nick Rainbow had been beaten, the ball was mid-air heading towards the back of the net when “never say die” defender Pete Latimer had sprinted back and swatted the ball away with great majesty. Quite how that didn’t win him the man of the match award this reoprter does not know. And with that, this report’s just about done. Thankyou and goodbye for the 2010-11 season as my deputy will need to write next week’s.
© Peter Latimer 20/3/11