Haven't we been here before?
Blackpool 1 Burnley
1 - Burnley won 4-3 on penalties
Around this time last season, we played in the Isle of Man, drew our first
game (against Wrexham), and won 4-3 on penalties. This year, we played in the
Isle of Man, drew our first game (against Blackpool), and won 4-3
on penalties. Oh - and we play Wrexham next. Groundhog Day, anyone?
In fact, so exciting was
the prospect of revisiting the Isle of Man, that none of our regular reporters
made the trip. So, minus the usual
match report, we thought we'd better pen a review for posterity.
Burnley lined up as follows:
Jensen, Roche, Camara, Weller (Chaplow, 27), Delaney (Richard, 45), Branch
(C), Little,
Grant, Taylor, Ian Moore, O'Neill (West,
45). Subs
not used: Antoine-Curier. Some of those names sound a bit unfamiliar? Well,
Delaney, Richard and Antoine-Curier were trialists, although following the "international
football festival",
Stan stated that he wouldn't be taking any of them on.
Notable absentees were
Mark McGregor (injured) and new signing Luke Chadwick (recovering from a
jaw operation), although Chadwick did travel with
the squad.
Blackpool, of course, included
Steve Davis. It will take a while to get used to seeing him in a tangerine
shirt, and to come to terms with him lining up alongside such luminaries
as ex-Bastard Simon "Larry" Grayson. Depressing.
Evidently we were under
the cosh for a large part of the game, and went behind after only four minutes
after poor defending left journeyman striker Mike Sheron one-on-one
with our new goalkeeper Brian Jensen. We're not sure how good the Beast's
English is, but presumably the phrase "poisoned chalice" popped into his
mind at that point.
Burnley did have a few
chances in the first half; a Little header (like that was ever going
to go in), a shot from O'Neill and a chance for Taylor, but it wasn't to
be. Blackpool should have taken the lead, though, when midfielder
Martin Bullock missed an empty net.
The second half was tame
in comparison, save a midfield melee featuring several Burnley players (and
one Steve McMahon - who says that nepotism is dead?). The Clarets came good
at the end, though, both Moore and Little pressurising Blackpool keeper Phil
Barnes before the latter brought down Golden Bonce for a penalty. The highlighted
one duly despatched the spot-kick, and it ended 1-1 at full time.
Then it was time to bite
the nails and close the eyes as the players stepped up for the penalty shootout.
Man of the match was undoubtedly Jensen, who saved three Blackpool penalties
to give us an unassailable 4-3 lead. Camara, West, Moore and Taylor were
our scorers, with Little hitting the crossbar. The Seasiders' scorers were
Richard Walker, Martin Bullock (at the second attempt) and Matthew Blinkhorn.
Jensen saved the efforts of Richard Wellens and Jamie Burns, and Bullock's
first try - the ref asking for it to be re-taken.
After the game, The Gaffer
said that it had been a good match, and that he was pleased with the workout.
The only downside was that Paul Weller picked up a knock on his leg following
a heavy challenge. Hopefully nothing serious - given our undersized
squad, we will be desperate to avoid injuries this coming season.
