Blackpool Men’s First team suffered their first defeat of the season, going down 5-3 away to Deeside Ramblers seconds.
From the opening whistle, Blackpool knew they were in for a tough day as a swarm of black shirts pressed the visitors deep into their own territory, allowing them minimal time on the ball. Every mistake was punished as Deeside won a series of penalty corners in the opening quarter of an hour, but the Blackpool defence remained resolute. Eventually the pressure told as Deeside converted with a flick into the top corner after a well worked move down the right flank.
Blackpool tried desperately to get back into the game, but the organised midfield of the home side made it very difficult to carve out any clear chances. After twenty five minutes the equaliser came in the only way that looked likely; Blackpool catching Deeside on the counter. A quickly taken side-line ball down the right linked up Dave Morgan, Josh Boyne and Rob Dingle, who combined to find Jordan Payne at the back post, who pushed the ball into an open net.
Deeside hit back immediately and could have had a third just before half time, but were denied by Nick Rainbow in the Blackpool goal.
Blackpool hit back immediately into the second half as Steve Whitley’s through ball found Ian Swaine with only the goalkeeper to beat, and he calmly slotted it past him to bring the scores level again.
In a carbon copy of the first half, Deeside regained their lead moments later as a well struck reverse stick shot took Rainbow by surprise and burst through his defences. After a scratchy ten minutes from both sides, Blackpool began to gamble in search of an equaliser, pushing more men further up the pitch. This however left gaps in defence, which Deeside were quick to pounce upon. A speculative ball out of midfield (at a potentially questionable height) was left by all except a Deeside winger diving in at the back post for a neat finish to open up a two goal advantage.
Next it was Blackpool’s turn to hit back immediately. Boyne’s excellent work down the right hand side fed into Morgan who pulled a goal back for his side with just under quarter of an hour to play.
However any chance of Blackpool leaving with a point disappeared when Deeside got their fifth from a penalty corner with little over five minutes remaining. Blackpool frustrations got the better of them as two players were sent to the side-lines, but in the end Deeside were worth winners in a reality check of the standard they now face in Division 1.
Blackpool have a week off next week, but face an interesting double header the week after against old rivals Lymm and then a cup derby against Lytham.