Goals from Brad Holmes and Luke Mariette helped the Development Squad pick up a 2-0 Central League victory against Huddersfield Town.
The match, being played at Longridge, was a good test for Stephen Dobbie’s side, who called on the experience of Stuart Moore, Luke Garbutt and Grant Ward within the line-up.
It was 17-year-old Dannen Francis, once again stepping up from the youth team, who made an immediate impression on the game though, teeing up Holmes to open the scoring inside six minutes. The winger turned his man and clipped a lovely delivery that his team-mate nodded in.
The clash was proving to be quite a physical encounter, with Grant Ward on the receiving end of a few tasty challenges that were quickly pulled up by the referee.
Another one, on Brad Holmes, resulted in Luke Garbutt having an opportunity from outside the area, however he whipped his free-kick over the bar.
At the other end, a superb save from Stuart Moore kept the side ahead. The stopper was at full stretch to push away a curling effort from Huddersfield’s Myles Bright.
Half-Time: Blackpool 1 Huddersfield Town 0
Straight after the interval, the visitors had another good opportunity to level the scores, forcing a save out of Moore, seconds after clipping the bar with a cross.
The pressure on the Blackpool defence continued, with Luke Garbutt well positioned to make a few vital clearances inside the six-yard box.
Brad Holmes tried to fashion himself an opportunity and add to his and the Seasiders’ tally, only to hit his strike straight at the ‘keeper.
Stephen Dobbie’s side did extend the lead moments later though. A ball across the six-yard box found its way to Luke Mariette to bundle in.
That cushion allowed the Seasiders to make substitutions for the final stages of the game and see the result out.
Full-Time: Blackpool 2 Huddersfield Town 0
Team: Moore, Oliver (Hughes 80), Squires (Strawn 67), Lankshear, Garbutt, Trusty, Ward, Mariette, Francis (Lescott 67), Moffat (Emmerson 80), Holmes
Not Used: Cunningham