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Updated 12.12.01 14:06

Blackpool Wren Rovers Reserves 6 v 1 Greyhound Gunners

Team From: (1)Lloyd,(2)Eaves, (3)Openshaw, (4)Fairbrother, (5)Woolley, (6)Hayes, (7)Else, (8)Whalley (c), (9)Cloney, (10)Blakeley, (11)Bradbury

The better side took the spoils after a hard fought match by the seaside. The strong wind behind the Gunners in the first period, caused problems for both sides.

The Gunners lined up against Blackpool with only eleven available players. To make matters worse, two of them were only 80% fit - Hayes suffering from an ear infection and Blakeley suffering from flu.

Manager McKean, looking to give the visitors more bite in the midfield area, opted for a change of tactics. Woolley stepped in for the absent Colley in defence while Lloyd, Eaves, Openshaw and Fairbrother continued in their recent positions. Hayes and Else joined Whalley in the centre of the midfield, with Bradbury and Blakeley taking the wide roles, looking to support their respective full backs. Cloney started as a lone striker, with the midfield looking to push forward to support her.

The Gunners had the strong wind at their backs in the first period, hoping to go in at half time with a lead that they could hold on to. However, against a team expected to be chasing for the title this was going to be a tall order with a fully fit squad never mind a bare eleven players.

Lloyd in the Gunners goal was called into action very early on, racing from goal to clear as 9 and 10 looked to break.

Else produced the Gunners first attack; breaking from her new midfield position, five yards inside her own half. Skipping past the attentions of several defenders as she forged towards the Blackpool area. Under pressure as she approached the box she tried her luck from 20 yards that went six yards wide right of goal.

Fairbrother and Eaves had to be on their guard from the outset as 9 & 10 looked to run at the Gunners defence, initially attacking down their right but as the game wore on switching across the line.

10 combined with 9 on six minutes forcing Lloyd out off her line to produce a fine diving save low to her left. Shortly after Woolley pulled off a solid blocking challenge, covering Fairbrother as the dangerous 9 managed to break free.

The Gunners had a two quick let offs around the ten-minute mark. A poor goal kick by Lloyd let in 9, who took the ball clear with the goal at her mercy. Only to be superbly denied by Lloyd, who made amends for her own error, with another fine save three yards out. Straight after, a break down the Blackpool left by 10, was half blocked by Openshaw. The looping rebound finding 9, who headed the ball home, fortunately for the Gunners, from an offside position.

On the quarter hour Bradbury and Else combined well near the edge of the Blackpool area forcing the home defence into conceding a free kick just 22 yards out. Hayes stepped up for the kick with the wind at her back with only one thing on her mind. However, she was unable to get enough height on the ball to take full advantage of the wind and trouble the Blackpool keeper who confidently took the ball at chest height on her line.

The Gunners looking to push forward where possible broke through the middle on eighteen minutes. Cloney, Else and Hayes all involved as a sweet passing move paid off with Else breaking into the Blackpool area. Else's initial shot came back off the keepers legs allowing Else to regain possession. Despite a very acute angle Else tried to get the ball back across goal but was thwarted by a determined recovery from the keeper.

The Gunners had a scare on twenty minutes as Openshaw went down with an ankle injury, which at first glance looked nasty. However, given the Braveheart spirit in the Gunners camp she simply laughed it off and carried on regardless.

Else forced the Blackpool keeper into her best save to date as the game reached the quarter mark. Breaking with Hayes down the right she produced a first time half volley that had the keeper scrabbling across goal to take.

The Gunners were almost caught out on the counter attack after twenty-five minutes as Else was just caught offside ten yards into the Blackpool half. Blackpool took a quick free kick, which wasn't spotted by the Gunners until 9 had broken clear. Lloyd again coming to the rescue as she saved well on her six yard line.

On thirty-three minutes Else tried her luck again. Hayes, breaking down the right played the ball over which Else delightfully lobbed over the defence catching all but the keeper out, who managed to beat Else to the ball as she punched the ball clear.

The home side took the lead through the outstanding 9 on thirty-four minutes. A cross from the right following a speedy break, found 9 ten yards out in the centre of goal. Instinctively she placed the ball low to the left of Lloyd giving her no chance.

The Gunners didn't let their heads go down and continued to battle on. Cloney producing three sound throws inside the Blackpool half that caused the home defence problems. Eventually leading to a weak shot from sixteen yards after Whalley and Else were involved.

Blackpool increased their lead after thirty-eight minutes, through a fine twenty-five yard effort. Eaves looking to block the way forward for 11, forced her inside. As she moved inside, she instantly hit a shot goalwards that caught out everybody, as it sailed into the top corner of the net. Lloyd had no chance despite being only six yards off her line.

As the half drew to a close Lloyd found herself one on one with 10 as the whole defence stepped out and stopped after failing to get the offside decision. Keeping her cool Lloyd closed the angle, forcing 10 to shot quickly. The shot clipped the outside of the right hand upright before going behind.

Half Time: 2-0

The Gunners knew they had an uphill struggle in the second period given the wind, now in their faces. On top of that Hayes suffering markedly with her ear infection, was pushed up front, giving her a break and allowing Cloney to get more involved in the game.

Lloyd continued in the second period as she finished the first, in the thick of the action, producing several fine saves in the first five minutes of the half.

Else looking to get the Gunners into the game, turned on the style ten minutes. Weaving her way past several defenders on two scintillating individual runs, which were both brought to a halt near the Blackpool area by fine challenges as the Gunners midfielder looked like going all the way.

A very rare mistake by captain Whalley led to the home side increasing lead on sixty-four minutes. Expecting a teammate on her inside, Whalley played the ball across the face of goal twenty yards out. However, 9 was on hand to take up the ball before a Gunners shirt could react. Pushing into the box 9 positioned herself before picking her spot and placing the ball home from twelve yards out.

Blackpool made it 4-0 on sixty-seven minutes, 10 for one of the few times of the afternoon getting the better of Fairbrother and hitting a low shot to the left of Lloyd's outstretched hand.

The Gunners midfield with lots to do maintained their work rate through out and even showed some decent exchanges as they sought to play their way out of trouble. Else, Whalley & Cloney significantly involved aided by Blakeley and Bradbury.

Lloyd's afternoon continued to get busier, as Blackpool, aided by the strong wind, pushed forward more and more. Two fine diving saves particularly of note.

9 completed her hat-trick on seventy-six minutes with a smart move down the right before shooting across Lloyd into the bottom left hand corner.

Within a minute the Gunners had their consolation. A Cloney throw knocked on by Bradbury to Whalley allowed the captain to go on a run and feed Cloney. Cloney took a touch before laying the ball into the feet of Else inside the area. Despite the Blackpool keeper getting a hand on Else's shot, the shot had enough power to find the back of the net.

The Gunners could have added another within a minute. Else broke down the left and played in a great cross back across the area, Cloney couldn't control it leaving it for Hayes in space at the edge of the box. Under normal circumstances Hayes would have hit the ball first time but chose to take a touch, which allowed a defender to get back and block her solid shot. Blakeley's well hit first time effort from twenty-five yards, screwed wide. The enthusiasm gained from the goal continued right up until the last.

Blackpool finished the game on a high with their sixth of the afternoon. 9 notching her fourth of the game, taking a lofted ball over the Gunners defence in her stride she lobbed the ball confidently over Lloyd as she came from goal.

Full Time: 6-1