Blackpool were overdue some luck after a terrible run of seven defeats, but two thousand Cods who came by car and tram to Bloomfield Road on a wet and windy afternoon did not want the sequence to end just yet, in the first Fylde league derby.
Sadly for them, it did. The seventeenth minute was the moment when Dame Fortune intervened. Fleetwood’s captain and longest-serving player, Nathan Pond, slid a cross from the right by Brad Potts past goalkeeper, Chris Maxwell. It was to be Blackpool’s only moment of note in front of goal and their first strike since 31st October but it infused their side with confidence and, somehow, they kept a superior Fleetwood Town at bay.
Mercifully, the rain had stopped by kick off but conditions were still going to be a factor to contend with after some dreadful weather. Early exchanges were tentative before Fleetwood showed signs of their recent good form with a short passing interplay keeping Blackpool on their toes and putting the Seasiders defence under concerted pressure. Full back Hayden White cleared a Joe Davis header off the line but, to rub salt into the wound, Blackpool then broke to score. Nevertheless, the Town support still felt that their side could create enough opportunities to take the points.
The wind was proving to be a handful for Fleetwood’s defence. Another moment of indecision, on the stroke of half time, presented Blackpool striker, Jack Redshaw, with a one on one but he fired wide. How crucial might that miss be by five ‘o’ clock?
As expected, Fleetwood were on the front foot in the second half, dominating territory and possession, but it was a familiar figure in goal who denied them. Dean Lyness was Burton’s goalkeeper in their League Two play-off final defeat to Town in 2014 and he stood firm on this occasion, denying a number of opportunities as well as turning a David Henen drive on to the crossbar.
Blackpool got men back and slowed the pace down as the game progressed. Fleetwood lacked the cutting edge in the final third to match their efforts and territorial domination. Former Pool player, Bobby Grant, could not replicate his ‘super-sub’ role of recent games when he came on, sadly unable to create a moment of magic to add to his six goals this season. Several injury breaks and substitutions combined to produce six added minutes but, for Fleetwood, it wasn’t enough to get on terms.
Bragging rights are therefore with the Blackpool fans in the work places next week and Fleetwood have to wait until as late as the penultimate game, in April, to get them back. By then, the season’s shape will have been well and truly defined.
