Division 5 leaders Formby 3’s came to Blackpool on an increasingly wet and windy day to compete in their toughest game to date, and by the end of the match were happy to hold on to a single point in a 2-2 draw.
It was a tight match with both sides having possession and attacking, and if anything Formby started the stronger. However it was Blackpool who opened the scoring when Andy Mortimer struck the ball 15 yards into the D where he found Alex Diver who gave the ball the sweetest of kisses into the corner of the goal.
Formby attacked in force and it wasn’t long before they equalised with a well taken half-chance deflecting a bouncing ball just inside the goalpost giving the keeper no chance. They also had a series of short corners, and eventually managed to direct a strike across the diving Graeme Kilshaw to take the lead.
Blackpool regained their composure and began some more sustained attacks, bringing Ollie Tomlinson on the wing, and with striker Martin Hayes’ return to the side. There were some shots which went close or were saved by the Formby keeper, and Steve White was particularly unlucky not to score when his shot went inches wide.
Blackpool had the better of the second half and the pressure increased and increased on Formby. It took a while before Blackpool could claim an equaliser, with a well worked goal started by Andy Mortimer from the back, down the right wing to Martin Hayes who crossed to the top of the D where Chris Hocking coolly let the ball cross him before releasing a reverse stick strike with the goalkeeper out of position.
Blackpool switched to a more attacking formation in search for a winning goal, and they did win some further short corners. Alex Diver had a shot loop over the goal, Paul Atherton had a shot to a near-empty goal agonisingly wide, and other half chances went amiss.
The final whistle was blown to Blackpool’s disappointment but they have to be content with a point with the knowledge that there’s still a lot of games to play in the league and they can improve from their 3rd place position.