Fleetwood Town played out a 2-2 draw in a local derby against Blackpool at Poolfoot Farm on Saturday morning.
The visitors opened the scoring ten minutes into the game through James Harrison, but it didn’t take Fleetwood long to get back on level terms as Enock Takpe converted a penalty nine minutes later.
Late drama saw Town secure a point and continue their unbeaten streak as Joe Collins guided the ball into the back of the Blackpool net with seconds to go, cancelling out Joe Apter’s earlier goal.
Matthew Lawlor’s side had the first chance of the game seven minutes in as good work from both Sam Bird and Takpe released Cian Hayes out wide, but his shot on goal whistled past the post.
Blackpool broke the deadlock a couple of minutes later as Apter managed to play the ball to Luke Mariette, who helped it on to Harrison who struck past Conor Eastham.
In the 18th minute, Town had a chance to forge their way back into the game as Josh Feeney worked his way into the Blackpool box and was brought down, gifting Town a penalty. Takpe stepped up and placed it into the back of the net, making it 1-1.
Pool had a spell of chances around the half-hour mark but weren’t able to capitalise. Apter had an effort go just wide of the post before Sky Sinclair played a ball over the top for Brad Holmes, but his shot went wide.
Fleetwood almost put themselves just before the break as Akiel Raffie did well to work some space on the wing, before crossing into the box towards Tom Hoyle, whose header went just off target.
The second half started with the young Cods pressing from the front, as they managed to work multiple chances, testing Charlie Monk in the Seasiders goal. The first was a shot from Raffie, which needed to be parried wide. Then, Hayes played a dangerous cross into the box which just evaded everybody, before Collins forced a save from a close-range header.
Just 60 seconds after the Collins header, Hayes worked a yard of space on the left-hand side of the box and decided to try his luck with his left foot, but the strike collided with the wrong side of the crossbar.
On the hour mark, Blackpool were cut down to 10-men as Raffie stormed through and was one-on-one with Monks, but the ‘keeper decided to take out the midfielder just outside the box, resulting in a red card.
Blackpool retook the lead ten minutes later as Holmes flashed the ball across the face of the Fleetwood goal, and Apter was there to tap the ball in from close range, making the score 2-1.
After the goal, Town’s Under 18s pressed forward looking for the equaliser and almost found it in the 76th minute as Raffie attempted a strike from the edge of the box, after a good passing move from the side, but his effort hit the outside of the post.
With seconds to go in the game, Fleetwood did manage to level things up and it was Collins from inside the six-yard box. Hayes drove forwards to start the move, but his cross was cleared, only to Feeney who headed it back into the danger area, where Collins was waiting, and he turned the ball past Blackpool’s goalkeeper.
Town XI: Eastham (GK), Bird, Wallace, Edwards, Hoyle (Patterson 84’), Feeney, Collins, Raffie, Takpe, Sithole (Smith 82’), Hayes.
Subs not used: Borwick (GK), Barratt, King.