Blackpool Men’s first team jumped to the top of North West Division two with a 6-2 win over Macclesfield firsts at Stanley Park. After a cagey opening quarter of an hour where neither side made their mark on the game, the home side began to find the passes that had eluded them earlier and the play became focused in the Macclesfield half. Dave Morgan carried on where he left off from last Sunday’s cup win, beating the advancing goalkeeper after being played in by Steve Whitley. Simon Thomas (who was mistakenly denied a goal in last week’s report – apologies!) had a glorious chance to double Blackpool’s lead but his one-on-one attempt was smothered by the goalkeeper. Thomas soon made amends and finished off a smart move that began down the left with the roaming Chris Hocking, who found the rapidly improving Josh Boyne in space. Boyne’s selfless ball across to Thomas left the midfielder with the easiest of tap-ins as Blackpool were in total control.
However, Macclesfield were determined not to lie down, and pulled a goal back with an inventive deflection after the striker had lost his marker in the Blackpool area from a quickly taken free hit. Blackpool began the second half looking to re-gain their two gaol advantage, but it was the visitors who struck to bring the game level. After intercepting a ball on the edge of his own area, the creative Macclesfield midfielder embarked on a mesmerizing solo run past all the Blackpool players. Although the defence could be criticised for their naivety in not breaking down play earlier in the move, it was a superb individual run and a well struck finish to bring his side back into the game.
Almost spurred on by this effort, Blackpool upped their game and retook the lead again through Morgan. Rob Dingles weighted aerial picked out James Slater’s run who crashed the ball across the area for Morgan to turn home via Whitley. Slater was again provider for the fourth as he picked out Ian Swaine who in turn found the corner to restore Blackpool’s two goal lead. Both Thomas and Whitley had a claim for the fifth as both dived in for the final touch after a rebound from Thomas’s initial flick, but the dubious goals panel came down in favour of Whitley. Boyne capped off another good game when his miss-hit cross picked out Morgan, who rounded off his man of the match performance with a hatrick. With South Cheshire losing at City of Manchester, Blackpool moved to the top of the division on goal difference, but still with that game in hand over some of their rivals.