Highbury was never like this

Last updated : 10 April 2008 By Tony Scholes
Alex MacDonald - scored the winner
This was Highbury, the home of Fleetwood Town, and this was the Pontin's League game between Blackpool and Burnley. I'd arrived at the ground ahead of kick off having been informed that the team would be a mixture of youth and experience, but it was not quite what I expected.

Yes there was youth, with such as Ben Hoskin and Alex-Ray Harvey, and yes there was experience with Gabor Kiraly in goal, Alan Mahon on the left of midfield, but who were the two players wearing numbers 5 and 9?

It is almost five years since Steve Davis played a competitive game for the Clarets, but he was back in the line up at the age of 39 whilst up front was 41-year-old Owen Coyle and the pair of them almost lasted the full game.

Davis was quickly into the action screaming: "Gaffer," as he played the ball forward to Coyle. It came to nothing and it was Blackpool who started the brighter of the two teams with Gabor Kiraly twice having to make smart saves to keep the scores level in the opening minutes.

That all changed just ten minutes in when the ball was played in for Harvey who was playing in an unaccustomed role up front. He made no mistake from the edge of the box.

Blackpool were level before half time after they scored from close range and we couldn't really complain that they didn't deserve it, but we did have another couple of chances ourselves.

The second half brought with it some real 1960s entertainment with the entry of a dog into the proceedings. Years ago a dog on the pitch was a common occurrence at Turf Moor but it is a rare even these days. Both managers would have been keen on signing it given its pace. Despite being muzzled none of the players would go near but eventually it was removed from the pitch.

Excitement over, we then took the lead again and it came from two of the youngsters in the side. Hoskin crossed from deep and Alex MacDonald scored what proved to be the winner.

Both Coyle and Davis came off and it was Coyle's replacement Wes Fletcher who almost added a third but his superb chip was tipped over the bar by the home keeper and in the last action of the game Fletcher hit a shot over the bar.

2-1 it ended and that brought Burnley's first win in the Pontin's League win since the last day of October when goals from Jay Rodriguez and the two O'Connors gave us a win against Accrington.

The teams were;

Blackpool: Pavel Steinbors, Ross Lloyd, Phil Doughty, Ashley Eastham, Paul Tierney, Andy Welsh, Marcus Bean (Danny Penswick 58), Stuart Green, John Hills (Dale Warburton 85), Keigan Parker, Simon Wiles (Jake Hobbs 81). Subs not used: Stefan Laird, Mark Halstead.

Burnley: Gabor Kiraly, Ben Hoskin, Michael Duff, Steve Davis (Chris Lynch 69), Stephen Jordan, Alex MacDonald, John Spicer, Mark Randall, Alan Mahon, Owen Coyle (Wes Fletcher 76), Alex-Ray Harvey. Subs not used: Stef Ritchie, Thomas Bradley, Chris Anderson.