Blackpool 2s ran riot at Stanley Park to secure their first win of the season with a comprehensive 9-3 victory against Didsbury Northern 5s.
Having seemingly enjoyed playing with only ten men last week, Blackpool had to start with only ten players again, due to several players either being stuck in traffic or stuck in bed! Nevertheless the home side started strongly and took a well-deserved lead in the opening five minutes with Adam ‘wants to be a striker’ George’s drag-flick finding the roof of the net. In true second team fashion, however, a lapse of concentration at the back gifted Didsbury an equaliser not long after. With Blackpool finally able to get eleven men on the pitch they were able to regain the lead with Chris ‘late arrival’ Hocking releasing Harrison ‘put the burners on’ Stott down the right, whose pace caused the senior Didsbury players troubles all afternoon, and he was able to slip in Jack ‘purple socks’ Boniface who slapped home from close range. Soon after it was 3-1 with Hocking turning from provider to finisher and Blackpool took this lead into the break thanks to the heroics of Stan ‘the man’ Morrison as he made a mesmeric stop from a penalty corner; the stop only outdone by his subsequent celebration and his now customary shout of “Come on!”.
Jelly Babies replaced Haribo as the half-time sweet of choice, and at first it seemed apt as Blackpool’s defence turned to jelly shortly after the break with Didsbury reducing the deficit and getting themselves right back into the game. Their joy was to be short-lived, however, as this spurred on the home-side to all-out attack. In stark contrast to the weather last week, this Saturday it was only raining goals as under glorious sunshine Blackpool put the game to bed with a dazzling display of attacking hockey. Hocking and Boniface both doubled their tallies and with the return of Mike ‘sea man’ Sharp from naval duties up top the goal-rush didn’t stop there. Sharp grabbed his first with a classic Striker’s poacher’s goal and then bungled his second with a penalty flick, helped in by the opposition goalkeeper. Stott shortly got the goal his all-round game deserved, when he drove at the Didsbury defence and delivered a reverse strike from the edge of the D wrong footing the goalie in comical fashion. To round off a frenzied fifteen minutes of goals even Paul ‘pretty boy’ Atherton was able to get in on the act as he tapped home Blackpool’s 9th (yes ninth!). The home-side’s efforts, and serious lack of fitness, took their toll as tired legs resulted in the game becoming a strung out affair for the final few minutes allowing Didsbury to grab a consolation goal to make the final score a ludicrous 9-3.
Harrison Stott was voted as Man of the Match in what was truly an all-round team stellar performance for Blackpool’s only remaining undefeated team.