Blackpool 2-4 Reserves FT

BLACKPOOL v WEST HAM UNITED
BARCLAYS PREMIER RESERVE LEAGUE
WEDNESDAY 23 MARCH 2011
KICK-OFF: 3PM

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Final score score - Blackpool reserves 2-4 West Ham United reserves

92 mins - Modelski makes a fine challenge and the referee blows for full-time. What a fantastic result! The goals were spread around, with Tombides, Moncur, Sears and Montano all getting their names on the score-sheet. To see them all, plus the other highlights from a super day in the Lancashire sunshine, keep a close eye on West Ham TV. For exclusive post-match reaction, log on to whufc.com

The reserves return to action on Monday, when they return to the north west and head to Blackburn Rovers. Manchester United then provide the opposition at Bishop's Stortford on Friday 2 April. Both matches will, of course, be covered by live text updates on whufc.com

91 mins - Phillips crosses and McNaughton towers high above his Blackpool striker to head clear. Abdulla heads on and Phillips lashes a first-time left-foot shot out for a throw on the far side. West Ham have done superbly during the second half, in particular. McNaughton has captained the side superbly, while Fry alongside him and Boffin in goal have kept communicating and urging their team-mates on. This has been a real collective display against a very experienced Blackpool side.

90 mins - We're going to have at least two added minutes...

89 mins - Substitute Tomsett shoots from 30 yards. The ball flicks off Moncur, but Boffin throws his giant frame down to his left to make the save.

87 mins - Reid picks out Phillilps but Driver does well initially. Phillips wins the ball back and crosses, but Boffin is there with safe hands at the near post.

84 mins - Lomas makes his third and final change, with Robert Hall replacing Sears. Blackpool boss Steve McPhee replaces Kornilenko with Liam Tomsett.

83 mins - Into the closing stages and victory would take West Ham above Aston Villa and into second place in the Southern Group table. Arsenal would remain four points clear, but the Hammers would have two games in-hand.

82 mins - Lee gets a foot in and West Ham have a three-on-three break. Moncur plays in McCallum, but the substitute is offside. That must have been close.

81 mins - Reid is booked for a foul on Modelski. The full-back had robbed him of the ball and he just pushed him to the ground. A bit of frustration, perhaps?

79 mins - Abdulla gives away a free-kick for a foul on Reid. The break in play sees Tombides replaced by Paul McCallum. Abdulla didn't really like the decision and receives a talking-to from the referee.

77 mins - Modelski flies forward again down the right and wins a corner. It is headed clear to Fry on the edge of the box, who controls with his left foot and sends a right-foot volley a couple of yards wide. Good effort from the defender, who has recently returned from a loan spell at Charlton Athletic.

75 mins - This game is not over! Phillips has space to pick out Kornilenko at the far post, but his header hits a defender and goes behind. The corner is headed clear and McNaughton pokes the ball to Montano. He swaps passes with Sears and makes for the penalty area. Moncur screams for the ball at the far post, but it's a difficult cross for Montano and he over-hits it ever so slightly.

73 mins - GOAL! Well, you could say the change had the desired effect! Sears brings the ball forward before drawing a defender and playing it wide right to Modelski. The Pole's first touch is an inch-perfect cross for Montano, who leaps and sends an unstoppable header into the top left-hand corner. Fantastic goal!

72 mins - A first change from Lomas as Edgar is replaced by full-back Modelski. Driver comes across to left-back and Montano moves forward. It's now a 4-5-1 for West Ham, with Sears wide on the right and Montano wide left.

71 mins - Another chance, this time for West Ham. Sears collects a pass from Edgar 25 yards out and shoots. He catches it well, but it's straight at Rachubka, who pats the ball down and gathers.

70 mins - Boffin will need a new pair of gloves at this rate! Ormerod gets in behind Driver and shoots powerfully, but again the goalkeeper is there to parry. The ball was hit with such power that it rebounds about 30 yards up the pitch.

69 mins - Take a bow Ruud Boffin! Reid crosses and Fry heads clear to Phillips. He shoots powerfully with his right foot but Boffin flies to his right to push the ball away at full stretch. The ball drops to Reid, but he's offside.

68 mins - I wonder if Lomas might make a change soon...

67 mins - Kornilenko has another chance from Reid's pass, but he spins on to his left foot under pressure from McNaughton and can only stab the ball a fair way wide of the post. The home side are in the ascendancy at present. West Ham need a spell in possession.

66 mins - That would have been controversial. Carney beats a couple of men and the ball drops to Kornilenko, but the defenders think he's offside. The big striker shoots a yard over the top when he really should do better.

64 mins - Ormerod releases Phillips and his cross is of the looping and dangerous variety, but Boffin shows good footwork and handling to catch the ball falling backwards. Good, assured stuff from the big Belgian.

62 mins - Good play by Callum Driver, who plays the ball to Tombides and continues his run. When Moncur lofts the ball over the top, the right-back forces Reid to track him and head the ball behind. Moncur's corner is low and easily cleared.

61 mins - Blackpool think they have an equaliser and the home fans cheer, but the assistant referee's flag rules out Ormerod's smart finish. The striker latched on to the loose ball after Boffin had done well to push aside Southern's low shot. An escape for the visitors.

59 mins - Lee fouls Reid about 35 yards out. Martin fancies himself from this range and shoots 'Ronaldo-style'. The result is not Ronaldo-esque, though, as the ball thuds into the faded tangerine seats halfway up the stand.

57 mins - GOAL! That's why I don't bet! Sears steams through the centre before drawing Basham and finding Edgar. He returns the favour and Sears lofts the ball into the net from close-range. Sbai tried to keep the ball out, but he could not stop it from crossing the line.

56 mins - This is like a basketball match. Seriously. It is just attack, attack, attack from both teams. I'd wager my walk home on another goal, but I'm not normally a betting man!

54 mins - A great chance for Edgar, who has time to pick his spot from 20 yards, but shoots straight at the goalkeeper. He had time and space then, did the No11.

53 mins - This is breathless. West Ham attack and Moncur tries to lob Rachubka from 45 yards, but the ball flies over the top.

52 mins - This is ridiculously end-to-end. Phillips is played in by Reid and crosses low towards his two strikers, but McNaughton is there to clear at the near post. Seconds later, Kornilenko's cross hits McNaughton on the hand, but it was never deliberate. No penalty.

52 mins - West Ham come again, but Lee's low shot from 25 yards does not trouble the replacement goalkeeper.

51 mins - Blackpool's turn to attack through Martin. He gets in behind Driver and crosses low, but Boffin shows good handling to gather the bouncing ball.

50 mins - Unlucky for Moncur, who makes a fine run to receive Montano's pass. He takes on Basham, but is crowded out on the edge of the box.

49 mins - Montano beats two men down the left before his cross is blocked behind. Edgar sends a deep corner over and McNaughton rises like a salmon. His header lands on the top of the net.

49 mins - Moncur is snapping away at his opponent's heels whenever he gets the chance. This has been a good performance so far from the young midfielder, who looks so composed in possession and dangerous whenever he gets on the ball.

48 mins - Rachubka spent time at Manchester United as a youngster, but has missed most of this season with a serious knee injury.

46 mins - Blackpool kick-off. About 40 seconds into the second half, Southern gets down the right and crosses for Ormerod. He's unmarked, but chooses to shoot first-time on his left foot, but the ball screws miles wide of the target.

Blackpool make a half-time change, with Rachubka replacing Halstead in goal.

Half-time score - Blackpool reserves 2-2 West Ham United reserves

47 mins - Moments after Blackpool kick-off, the half-time whistle goes. What a first half that was!

46 mins - GOAL! Moncur equalises with a superb low shot from 16 yards. Sears creates the goal by running at the defence and cutting the ball across the edge of the penalty area for the midfielder. Moncur takes a touch and slams his shot past Halstead and the net billows.

45 mins - Edgar is fouled about 25 yards out. He takes the free-kick himself and thuds a shot into the defensive wall. The ball drops to Abdulla, but his volley flies high and wide.

43 mins - GOAL! I'm not sure West Ham deserve to be behind but they are. Martin and Carney attack down the left and the ball is worked inside to Ormerod. The No10 is allowed the time and space to turn, so he does just that and plants a low shot inside the left-hand post from the edge of the penalty area.

41 mins - So close! Tombides wins a corner. Edgar takes it short to Moncur, who crosses. The ball curls a yard past the angle of the far post and crossbar with goalkeeper Halstead stood watching. That wasn't a shot, but it so nearly ended up in the net.

38 mins - Carney has acres down the left and finds the over-lapping Martin. He plays the ball to Ormerod, who cuts it back for Kornilenko. The No9 slides, but his shot flies a couple of yards the wrong side of the near post.

35 mins - Half a chance. Tombides gets the ball about 30 yards out and tries to play in Edgar. He over-hits the pass and Edgar is forced wide. Moncur screams for the ball on the edge of the box, but Edgar floats it over his head.

34 mins - It will be interesting to see how West Ham respond to conceding. Blackpool had thrown plenty at them prior to the goal but had not tested Boffin. This will be a test of character.

32 mins - GOAL! Martin feeds Kornilenko about 30 yards out and he lets fly with his left foot. The ball screams into the top left-hand corner past Boffin's dive. Great effort from the Belarus international. The home fans cheer loudly. There are probably about 200 of them in the stand opposite me.

27 mins - Tombides could have a second. Montano gets forward down the left and crosses high for the Australian, but he slightly mis-times his leap and heads the ball up and over the crossbar from six yards.

24 mins - GOAL! It's been coming! Tombides scores again. He shows great composure to latch on to a through ball and slot past goalkeeper Halstead from 16 yards. The ball did take a slight nick off the goalkeeper, but rolled safely into the net. Superb stuff, and the 17-year-old has saved me a long walk home!

24 mins - Good play by Lee to bring the ball clear. He finds Moncur, who passes the ball on to Sears, but his cross for Tombides is headed powerfully clear by Basham inside the area.

23 mins - The helicopter pilot has seen enough of the action and has flown off towards Blackpool Tower.

22 mins - A helicopter is hovering almost directly over the stadium. Very menacing! It is a black helicopter, like 'Airwolf'!

21 mins - Driver gets forward well down the right before Edgar crosses towards Tombides. The ball skips up and is worked back to Montano, whose cross drops to Driver. He controls and Edgar shoots, but it is blocked.

20 mins - Carney plays a neat pass to Martin down the left and makes his way forward. When the Frenchman lays the ball inside to him, the Australian shoots first-time, but drags his effort well wide of the right-hand post.

18 mins - It's all quietened down a bit in terms of goalmouth action, but both teams look keen to get their noses in front. Blackpool are literally attacking with everyone bar their centre-backs, leaving plenty of room for Sears and Edgar to exploit.

12 mins - Another good chance, this time for Ormerod, who flashes a header past the angle of far post and crossbar from Phillips' right-wing cross. This is going to be an entertaining 90 minutes, I can assure you. If this remains goal-less, I'll walk back to east London!

11 mins - Tombides is back on and does well to hold off Sbai and lay the ball back to Lee, whose low shot takes a slight deflection and flies inches wide. The corner is taken short and Edgar crosses, but Tombides is beaten in the air. West Ham are getting a foothold in this game and look very dangerous.

9 mins - Blackpool's attacking formation means they are very open at the back. Moncur takes advantage and gets a left-wing cross in. Tombides is all alone six yards from goal but the ball glances off his head as he dives and flies wide of the far post. The Australian has hurt himself trying to put that chance away and needs the physio on.

8 mins - Sears looks dangerous on the counter. He runs at Carney before letting fly from about 25 yards. The shot arrows low and a yard wide of the far post. Good effort from the No7. West Ham are playing in a 4-3-3 shape, with Sears and Edgar supporting Tombides.

6 mins - Blackpool are employing a very attacking formation, with the full-backs Phillips and Carney really pushing on. Ormerod crosses but it's just too high for Kornilenko. Phillips controls on his chest but Montano is there to hack clear.

5 mins - Reid picks ouf Phillips with a lovely pass. The No2 crosses low towards Kornilenko, but McNaughton gets a foot in to stab the ball out for a throw. The Irishman looks like he's going to try and control the game from a deep-lying midfield role.

4 mins - Phillips gets forward down the right and wins the first corner of the game for the home side. It is taken short to Reid, who tries to beat Edgar, but loses control and the ball rolls behind for a goal kick.

2 mins - It's all happening early doors! Kornilenko controls on the edge of the area before trying to spin between Fry and Montano. He goes to ground, but the referee waves his penalty appeals away.

2 mins - Sears beats three men with a jinking run down the right before cutting inside and trying to find the unmarked Edgar, but Basham makes a sliding interception. Edgar picks up possession but his cross from Tombides is too strong.

2.58pm - Moncur and Abdulla get us underway.

2.57pm - The Hammers will kick-off...

2.55pm - Here come the two teams. West Ham are in white shirts, light blue shorts and light blue socks, while Blackpool are in their home strip of tangerine shirts, white shorts and tangerine socks. Our referee is Paul Hodskinson, while West Ham are captained today by Callum McNaughton.

2.50pm - The two teams have completed their pre-match warm-ups and headed back to their respective dressing rooms. This will be a big test for Steve Lomas' young side against a Blackpool team full of Premier League experience. Malaury Martin and Salaheddine Sbai are the only two Tangerines not to have featured for Ian Holloway's team this season. In contrast, only Freddie Sears and Ruud Boffin have turned out at senior level this term.

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2.40pm - It really is a gorgeous day here on the Fylde Coast. The coach took a quick trip down the Promenade earlier and there are the first signs of life ahead of the busy summer season - the rock shops are open and there are a few holiday-makers dotted about the place. It's certainly nicer today than it was when the first team visited Bloomfield Road last month, when the high winds and rain made it a bracing afternoon by the seaside!

Good afternoon and welcome to Bloomfield Road for this afternoon's Barclays Premier Reserve League fixture between Blackpool and West Ham United.

The Hammers will be looking to extend their unbeaten run under new manager Steve Lomas to five matches, with a victory taking the visitors above Aston Villa and into second place in the Southern Group table.

With six matches still to play, West Ham have every chance of winning the Southern Group title, as they go into today's match seven points behind leaders Arsenal with three games in-hand.

Blackpool themselves have enjoyed a less successful season at reserve-team level, but have picked up their form in recent weeks and have defeated Liverpool and Manchester United in their previous two fixtures.

Team news-wise, Lomas has a largely inexperienced squad at his disposal, with Freddie Sears and Ruud Boffin the only regular first-team squad members to make the long journey north during the current international break.

First-year professional defender Matt Fry (pictured) is back from a successful loan spell at League One side Charlton Athletic, while scholars Dylan Tombides, George Moncur and Callum Driver will be keen to maintain their recent good form.

Blackpool have named a very strong starting XI, with experienced strikers Sergei Kornilenko and Brettt Ormerod leading the line ahead of a midfield that includes Republic of Ireland international Andy Reid and a back four featuring Australia full-back David Carney.

Blackpool reserves: Halstead (Rachubka 46), Phillips, Sbai, Basham, Carney, Southern, Sylvestre, Reid, Martin, Ormerod, Kornilenko (Tomsett 84)
Subs: Dodd, Reynolds, Mitter

West Ham United reserves: Boffin, Driver, McNaughton, Fry, Montano, Lee, Moncur, Abdulla, Sears (Hall 84), Edgar (Modelski 72), Tombides (McCallum 79)
Subs not used: Mehmet, Craig