Blackpool 3 Telford United 1
(18 November 2000):
NB: Due to the Unavailability of John Seckers Report for todays match our News Editor Chris Reece from BFCOnline has kindly agreed to step in at short notice and provide today's match report.
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Steve McMahon named no changes to the side that were humiliated at Barnet last Saturday. Telford manager Jake King caused a stir around the paddocks when ex-Pool striker Chris Malkin was named on the bench for the Conference side.
Pool started brightly and made the perfect start when big John Murphy put his side ahead on 9 minutes. Lee Collins started the move passing to Paul Simpson on the left hand side. After teasing the right back, Simpson planted a curling cross towards Murphy who expertly volleyed past Telford keeper Mark Albrighton.
To their credit, Telford kept their heads up and began to threaten the Blackpool lead. After a string of corners towards the end of the half, only a world class save from Jon Kennedy denied Gary Martindale and Telford an equaliser. The effort from Martindale was just one of many from Telford in arguably their best spell of the game.
But all the hard work from the visitors was wasted when Pool were gifted a second in first half injury time. Murphy received the ball in the clear courtesy of a mix-up at the heart of the Telford defence between ex-Blackpool player Neil Moore and Brian Gayle. Murphy's effort was pushed away from Albrighton only for it to fall to Ormerod who smashed the ball into the top corner. 2-0.
The second half started as the first ended. Telford continued to win corner after corner but failed to create any scoring opportunities. The only chance of the first 20 minutes of the half came from a powerful Jake Edwards cross which flew past Kennedy's goal mouth. Fortunately for Pool there was no Telford shirt there to tap it in and the ball went harmlessly out for a goal kick.
Then came the moment that the Blackpool fans thought they would never see again. Striker Chris Malkin made his Bloomfield Road comeback, coming on for Steve Palmer.
His intervention seemed to inspire Telford and within minutes they halved the Blackpool advantage. The goal came from a superb volley by Gary Martindale from a deep cross and suddenly the game wasn't so secure for the Seasiders.
But straight from the kick off Paul Simpson picked out Brett Ormerod in the box. Ormerod pulled the ball out the air, made room for himself and blasted the ball to the left of Mark Albrighton and into the net.
From then it was all Blackpool and the only question left of the game was whether or not Ormerod was to get his hat-trick. But despite several opportunities that fell to Ormerod in the remaining minutes of the match, luck wasn't on the striker's side as his efforts were either well saved or flashed wide.
In pouring rain the final whistle was blown signalling the end of Telford's FA Cup dream. Blackpool will hope this is just the beginning and face another conference side in the second round in the form of Yeovil Town.
The cup however must be put aside for now, as Pool face a tricky home encounter with Darlington next saturday. A win here is essential if Pool are to bounce back from a recent bad patch in the league and get their promotion challenge back on track.
Report by Chris Reece
Blackpool: Kennedy, Hughes, O'Connor, Reid, Hills, Coid, Wellens, Collins,
Simpson, Ormerod, J. Murphy.
Telford: Price, Travis, Advise, Moore, Gayle, Bentley, Greece, Gabbling,
Martindale, Edwards, Palmer. Subs: Malkin, Bray, Sandwich, McCoy, Murphy.
Referee: M Flatter (Barley).