The Under-18’s exited the EFL Youth Alliance Cup, losing 5-3 to Carlisle United at Common Edge.
Matthew Blinkhorn’s side went into break 2-1 up thanks to goals from Gabe Schluter and James Butterworth before going a further goal ahead through Theo Upton after the break.
The visitors from Cumbria turned the game on its head in the final thirty minutes scoring four unanswered goals to progress to the next round of the EFL Youth Alliance Cup.
Pool had the ball in the back of the net after 40 seconds when Jack Richardson crossed for Terry Bondo to finish, but the striker was flagged for offside.
It was that same combination three minutes later that created the next chance of the afternoon, but this time Bondo headed over at the near post as Pool looked to bag an early goal at Common Edge.
Bondo’s strike partner, Lennon Scholes, was sent through on goal by a brilliant Ky-Mani Leliendal first time ball, which sliced the Carlisle defence in half. Scholes couldn’t get the better of the keeper though as Pool’s search for an opener went on.
The opening goal finally came for the Seasiders in the 17th minute when Schluter drove at the last defender before dropping his shoulder and firing low and hard past the keeper with his left foot.
Schluter could have had his and the team’s second seconds later when he was found in space in the box by a cut back, but the wide man fired a rising effort just over the bar.
Midfielder Upton threatened to double Pool’s advantage when he fired a powerful effort from the edge of the box, after a clearance fell to him, but the Carlisle keeper got down well to tip the strike around the post.
Bondo was forced off with an injury half an hour into the encounter and his replacement James Butterworth made an instant impact curling in a delightful effort into the far top corner from the edge of the box. The forward received an inside pass by Schluter before turning and placing his effort into the top corner.
The visitors didn’t create many opportunities in the first-half, with Pool dominating proceedings but the Cumbrians found a way back into the match two minutes before the break when a defensive mix up allowed their striker to finish past Kai Crowe.
It could have been even better for Carlisle when their number nine was sent through in added time, but Crowe spread himself well to save and keep the Pool’s lead intact going into the break.
HT: Blackpool 2-1 Carlisle United
Pool regained their two-goal lead when Upton cannoned in a first-time effort six minutes after the interval from the best part of 25 yards. The midfielder showed great technique to fire the rising effort into the top corner, giving the visiting keeper no chance.
Nine minutes later the visitors reduced the deficit once again with Spencer Knight giving the ball away in a dangerous position before Carlisle’s winger made the most of the opportunity to fire low past Crowe, who had pulled off another impressive save only two minutes earlier from a corner, which wasn’t cleared.
The visitors sensed they could take hold of the match after their second as they went close minutes later, hitting the side netting. They found the leveller in the 81st minute before quickly adding a fourth and going ahead in the match for the first time.
It went from bad to worse for Blinkhorn’s side in the 88th minute when Carlisle’s number nine added his third and Carlisle’s fifth with a brilliant lob after Pool didn’t deal with a long ball in the gusty conditions.
FT: Blackpool 3-5 Carlisle United
Starting XI: Crowe, Leliendal, Gwanzura, Nwankwo, Oshodi (Norris 80), Richardson, Knight, Upton, Schluter, Scholes (Williamson 80), Bondo (Butterworth 32)
Subs: Brier, Norris, Williamson, Butterworth