Four wins out of five is good form and despite the less than convincing overall performance against the Wombles, the result is all that really matters at this stage. Having been beaten twice by Blackpool in last season’s run-in, tonight could be the time for a spot of revenge. It’ll be a pleasant diversion from more serious matters but I still want us to win every game. Even if we don’t get too far in any of the cup competitions, they give all of the squad players a chance to show us what they can do. I don’t know much yet about our line up this evening but Alves is definitely starting and it’ll be good to see him in action. I don’t think the game is being streamed in any form so I’m planning to listen to SAFSEE in Sunderland with a couple of friends. I take it we’ll have penalties if the sides are level at full time and my match prediction is a win for us on pennas.
I got the team-news an hour before kick-off and was pleased to see that Huggins, Pritchard, Broadhead and Cirkin were all starting in addition to Alves. I got to the bubble, if we can still use the term, at 7.30 and stuck some cans in the fridge before settling down to the broadcast. Both my mates were also going for a win but within normal time. Apparently there weren’t many fans in the ground but they were certainly making a good racket in the moments before kick-off.
The first attempt on goal came in the fourth minute from our ex-player Reece James who shot well over but this was immediately followed by a more threatening effort from John-Jules which Patterson held. Huggins was getting forward well and we had a penalty shout denied though commentators Benno and Barnes seemed to think it should’ve been awarded. Blackpool went ahead in the ninth minute when Diamond lost possession and Lavery flicked home from six yards. We battled back well and three minutes later O’Brien coolly slotted home Neil’s pass from the edge of the box to put us level. Both Huggins and Broadhead were garnering praise from Benno and that was pleasing. Hamilton seemed to be their main threat down their right wing and they kept trying to get the ball out to him. Both teams were going for it and another goal felt likely before too long. Broadhead had the ball in their net in the thirty-sixth minute but it was ruled out for offside. It sounded a fluent move, though. Not long before the break O’Brien was set up well but he scuffed his shot wide of the post appealing that he’d been clipped. Next thing Blackpool threatened at the other end and Wright was forced to concede a corner. It remained 1-1 at half-time and we’d done well to fight back after conceding that early goal and had more than held our own.
The second period resumed at a similar pace and the fans were still making a good racket. We won our first corner of the match twelve minutes in and the ball was in the net. At first it was unclear whether O’Brien or Gretarsson (own goal) had put it into the net. Personally I wasn’t too fussed but it was soon awarded to O’Brien. We were sounding good for another goal too. I could hear our fans chanting, “Your support is fuckin’ shit” coming through loud and clear. The time was whizzing away pleasantly fast and with just less than twenty minutes left we brought on Embleton and Stewart for Pritchard and Broadhead. Fair dues to the home fans for giving Embleton a good ripple. Stewart put in a good header with his first touch from a corner. Next thing we replaced Alves, who’d been injured, with Doyle and it felt good to have a solid player like him coming on. Patterson made a great save with ten minutes to go and for me he should be our first choice. Blackpool were putting a lot of pressure on in the final minutes and some of our players were sounding tired. Winchester was even hobbling. Their sub Bowler was sounding particularly threatening and just as I typed that he went and scored with a minute or so to go. I still thought we’d win if it went to penalties, as seemed very likely. Four minutes of stoppage-time were announced and my heart sank a bit but I needn’t have worried as very soon Diamond crossed and the unmarked O’Brien dinked in his third to put us into a 3-2 lead and so it ended.
Some people were slagging O’Brien off earlier in the day but his great performance must surely have given them something to think about. It sounded like a very entertaining game and it’s a shame we couldn’t see it. Bring on Wycombe.
