[themaclad]

AFC Blackpool against Barnoldswick on a Thursday night what more coulld ask for apart from, hailstones, snow, wind and rain which were all in abundance at Jepson Road, Blackpool last night. A magnificent attendance of 39 including one Oxford United fan who was on his way to stay with friends in Barrow before making his way up to Brunton Park on Saturday for United's vital promotion game with the Cumbrians.
AFC fight against relegation had stalled recently, having lost to the two clubs below tham they relly need to win at least two of their last five games to avoid going down, this was not going to be one of them as Barnoldswick in reality cruised to a 3-0 against the home side.
Warning side we already flashing when Barlick had a goal disallowed within the first couple of minutes for pushing at a corner. The next time a cross came over Threlfall got above the defence and headed home. For 25 minutes the home side were awful and playing completely the wrong tactics, lobbing the ball towards two small forwards against two towering defenders only one outcome easy pickings for the visitors defence.
Eventually the home side played the ball on the floor had a couple of efforts on goal but the visitors stronger and tallers players always seem to have the edge.
Within 10 minutes of the restart another cross and another goal, this time Beckwith nodded home. Thge home battled gamely on had half chances although they should have pulled a goal back when a poorly struck corner was put wide of a gaping goal by an AFC forwrd.
Throwing caution to the wind AFC were getting caught on the break and sure enough Threlfall made it three from the inside right position ten yards out with the last kick of the game.
To be fair to the home side they have just played six games in the last 10days and have four more to play until a week on Saturday, so there are bound to be some tired legs and given thay have too work for a living it is becoming a tough ask for them to stay up.
But still got points to play for and will possibly there again next week for the local derby against Squires Gare.

AFC Blackpool 0 Barnoldswick Town 3 Att 39

[themaclad]

AFC Blackpool's bid to escape relegation had a major boost last night with a 3-1 victory over very near neighbours Squires Gate at Jepson Way, Blackpool last night, the result dragged the Gate back into a five club traffic jam at the bottom of the lague.
On a bobbly pitch with a wind blowing straight down the pitch it was no surprise that Gate playing with the wind started well, they had an early goal disallowed for pushing following a corner.
It took the home side a while to get into the game but on 28 minutes AFC took the lead, following an attack down the right hand side, the ball was fed to Thornber whose shot was deflected past the Gate goalkeeper into net. Vital lead, it also relaxed the home side who began to play with a bit more freedom instead of some hit and hope football.
Soon after the break they doubled their lead, from about 25 yards out to the right of the penalty area, Fleming curled a free kick over the wall, the keeper, the ball clipped the underside of the bar and into the net it went. Gate had a chance to reduce the arears but when well place the Gate player skied the ball over the bar.
If the second AFC goal was good the third was route 1, mammoth punt by keeper, defender and Gate keeper hesitated, Williams nipped in a prodded in number three. Game over, well almost AFC keeper produced a great save to deny a 25 yard effort that was going in before Gate pulled a goal back following pinball in the AFC area when Penswick nodded home.
Any football now went out the window as it was one touch stuff by both sides but although exerting pressure Gate could not score again and AFC took the points to complete the double over the side from across the road

AFC Blackpool 3 Squires Gate 1 Att 218

https://youtu.be/yRXs4J_Pxbs

Bottom of the table

18 Squires Gate 41 10 8 23 51 91 -40 38
19 Silsden 41 9 10 22 56 87 -31 37
20 AFC Darwen 40 10 7 23 76 110 -34 37
21 AFC Blackpool 40 9 9 22 61 97 -36 36
22 Alsager Town 40 10 5 25 50 97 -47 35

[themaclad]

Both Alsager and Darwen win tonight

[themaclad]

West Didsbury 2 AFC Blackpool 1 one game to go need three points and then rely on other results, they play West Didsbury at home on Saturday so it's straight from Deepdale to Jepson Way two games in a day

[themaclad]

Arrived 10 minutes after the start having left Deepdale dead on final whistle, there was no score between AFC and West Didsbury and Chorlton but the traffic all seemed to be going towards the AFC goal. The home side seemed to be playing one up front the diminutive Williams and were pumping a series of hopeful high balls towards him.
West Dids took the lead after 16 minutes when Evangelinos scored from 25 yards probably the keeper should have saved it but might be a bit harsh with that.
AFC looked resigned to defeat and the relegation, heads dropped and West Dids dominated and had several other chances to score, including hitting the bar, but on the stroke of half time the home side were level, decent corner and a great header by Carroll.
AFC's chances of staying up had been raised but within five minutes of the restart they had that sinking feeling again when a free kick from the left was headed home by Shaw with no dfender in sight.
AFC could have had a penalty when the central dfender nearly had his head kicked off,no penalty and the dfender went off injured.
A mammoth long through was bundled home by Potts with 20 minutes to go to make it 3-1 and it was just a matter of home many West Dids would get they got two more Brockley and Key scoring easy goals.
AFC battled back and Williams reduced the arrears before Sears got another goal in the last minute to give the scoreline a flattering look.
So relegation for AFC Blackpool probably won't be the only team in Tangerine to go down this weekend

AFC Blackpool 3 West Didsbury and Chorlton 5 Att 61

https://youtu.be/drd8JTetcWc

May get other games in this season but thanks to those who have read this thread over the season.

[St Charles Owl]

Thank you to you Themaclad for putting these posts up. I read them everytime you post your reports and you dedication to football is admirable!!

[themaclad]

Many thanks SCO

[themaclad]

Atherton Collieries v Colne at Fleetwood

[themaclad]

Well this is definitely drinking at the last chance saloon this season, took in the MEN cup final for North West Counties League clubs between Atherton Collieries and Colne at a rainy Fleetwood last night.
Colne having been crowned legaue champions against the Colls who had finished third in the league.
A decent crowd of 385 provided a good partisan atmosphere, as for the game it was very entertaining.
Colls should have been ahead within a minute a corner was missed by everyone including Battersby who seemed tio be taken by surprise as the ball arrived within his vicinity, not too worry for Colls as within 10 minutes they were two up both goals coming from goalkeeping mishaps from Colne reserve keeper Cross, fumbled a cross then a shot and both Cover and Battersby took advantage to put the Colls in a good position.
The difference in playing styles was obvious Colne playing a tippy tappy style whilst Atherton when they got the ball played the tradition non league game of get it down the pitch and shoot from anywhere style.
Colne dominated possession but the build up was far too slow, with Colls getting 10 men behind the ball and being hard to break down, chances at both ends were limited but Boyle was unlucky for Colne when he turned smartly in the area before hammering a shot against the underside of the bar before the ball bounced away to safety.
Colne still dominated but getting closer to half time Colne had two great chances to increase their lead but first Cross denied Battersby before the aforementioned keeper nearly gifted Colls a third following a dreadful goal kick, he was lobbed from 20 yards the ball narrowly missed the target.
On the stroke of half time Colne scored a cross from the right was deflected off two Colls defenders before dribbling into the net.
Defining moment? could have been but more hapless goalkeeping by Cross who parried a Battersby's shot to the feet of Hardcastle who made it 3-1.
Colne still passing the ball around and going absolutely nowhere with it never remtely looked like reducing the deficit and with about 15 minutes to go it became 4-1 pinball in the area following a shot from distance not held by the keeper, ball ran to Batrtersby no mistake 12 yards out.
The Colls supporters wanted 5 and with five minutes to go they did indeed make it five, great goal as well, 40 yards chipped pass Battersby controlled and then chipped the keeper all in one movement, delirium amongst the Colls supportes they nearly made it six with a 25 yard effort which narrowly went over the bar.
On the way back to the car a Fleetwood supporter said best game on their all season having watched some dross on their this year.

Atherton Colliries 5 Colne 1 Att 385

First video Colls 2nd goal

https://youtu.be/vaJ2IuOmAkM

https://youtu.be/Ub4K0wgkE3I

[themaclad]

On the anniversary of England's World Cup triump it was the right time to get in the first game of the season, with no cricket this week, it was off to Squires Gate to see the home side play Crook Town from the North East.
Got to the ground and the car park was full apart from one space which was guarded over by a bloke in shorts, it was the manager of the Crook team who was waiting for a car full of players to arrive 15 minutes before the start, which meant preparation for the team had basically gone out of the window.
With the score 3-0 to the home side at half time the late arrival of some of the visitors made for a disjointed first half performance by Crook, at the back they were all over the place as Gate scored from a penalty in the first couple of minutes when the keeper brought down Seers, on another day the red card probably would have been shown to the custodian but it the referee showed common sence. Seers scored from the penalty.

https://youtu.be/KIXiHaQtzJo Penalty

Gate could have scored more but good keeping kept them out, until the 17th minute when yours truly gets a technical assist, playing the ball back to a Gate player to take a throw in which eventually led to Seers finding Dawson in tons of space to make it two. Gate dominated the rest of the half although Brown for the visitors went narrowly wide. Five minutes before half time a great cross from the left saw Dawson head the ball over to Seers who nodded the ball home to make it three.
Promised to be a long second half but during the break Crook had re organised and looked a bit stronger at the back although Gate missed a couple of chances to increase the lead.
On the hour Gate made five substitutions and within minutes Crook had pulled a goal back when Smith chipped a free kick over the wall into the net. Crook further reduced the arears with about 15 minutes to goal when Brown thumped home a shot from 18 yards off the far post.
Crook sensed an unlikely draw but were hit by an injury to the left back which meant thatb the back four had to change into a back three and sure enough Gate exploited the change Stayte chipped over the keeper and the ball was almost in before Fishwick made sure from an inch. Seers had a chance of a hat trick but hit the side netting. Decent entertainment for the first game of thge season, competitive football probably next week.

Squires Gate 4 Crook Town 2 Att 35 ish