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Archived News from April 2003

STAGS SUFFER FAMILIAR HEARTBREAK
21st April 2003 19:50


Blackpool 3 Mansfield Town 3
Blinkhorn 30, Pilkington OG 43, Taylor 90
Clarke 13, Larkin 46, White 86

Att: 6,173 (approx 1000 from Mansfield, my estimate)

Martin Shaw at Bloomfield Road

Stags suffered a familiar heartbreak at Bloomfield Road this afternoon as they conceded an injury time equalizer to drop two priceless points. It was a tremendous performance from the Stags: one to really put the pride back into the club and one which warranted the tremendous reception the large Stags following gave them.

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BBC report:
Scott Taylor's last-gasp equaliser gave Blackpool a barely deserved point against strugglers Mansfield in a six-goal thriller at Bloomfield Road.
The Seasiders fell behind in the 13th minute when Jamie Clarke romped through a static home defence to score his first goal of the season.
Blackpool hit back when Richie Wellens' curled free-kick was half saved by Kevin Pilkington and with the ball already going in, Matt Blinkhorn forced it over the line.
Blinkhorn doubled his tally moments before the break when he fired home Wellens' cross from the edge of the box.
The Stags responded well in the second half.
Substitute Colin Larkin got the Stags back in the game two minutes in with a lovely finish, before striker Andy White put his side ahead with a stunning volley.
But Taylor ensured a share of the spoils at the death when he glanced home a Wellens' corner past helpless Town keeper Kevin Pilkington.

Footymad.net report:
Mansfield came to within 90 seconds of giving themselves a realistic Second Division lifeline only for Scott Taylor to rescue a point for Blackpool in a 3-3 thriller.
Blackpool midfielder Richie Wellens' cleverly flighted cross to the far post was met by substitute Taylor who nodded home his 15th goal of the season.
Taylor's goal avoided Blackpool the embarrassment of losing to the strugglers but it means that Steve McMahon's side have not won a game in ten matches.
McMahon said afterwards: "It was an exciting match but for all the wrong reasons.
"We should never have conceded three goals. Each time it was down to shoddy defending. We had to keep picking ourselves up and this is from a Blackpool side which just a few weeks ago looked like play-off certainties. I cannot believe it.
"However, it is time to start the clearout and get some new faces in." Dejected Stags defender Jamie Clarke scored his first goal of the season in the 13th minute but after having victory snatched from them he said: "I don't get many chances to shoot and when I do it usually goes into the stand. This time I got on top of it.
"All season we have struggled against set pieces and with a few seconds to go the same old mistake cost us. It is so disappointing." Clarke romped through a non-existent Blackpool defence to score the Stags' first.
His run began at halfway and Clarke could hardly believe it himself as the Blackpool defence opened up in front of him allowing him to get in a shot from 15 yards out which beat Phil Barnes with ease.
Blackpool teenager Matt Blinkhorn got his side back in the game which was his first League start.
His first came in the 30th minute when Wellens had a brilliant 25-yard shot pushed onto the bar by Stags' keeper Kevin Pilkington, but Blinkhorn followed up to toe-poke home the rebound.
In the 43rd minute Blackpool man of the match Wellens produced a great cross which Blinkhorn headed home - Pilkington could only help it into the net.
A half time substitution got the Stags straight back into it. Colin Larkin showed a clean pair of heels to the home defence and he produced an excellent finish to make it 2-2.
The Stags must have thought they had got their winner when Andy White volleyed home at the back post in the 85th minute but that fragility against set pieces cost them dear when Taylor glanced home his header.

 

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