PLAYING well and failing to take three points has become a Seasiders speciality over the last two months but, on Tuesday night, they finally perfected the art of playing badly and winning, thanks to handball which gifted them a penalty.

The first home league victory of the season looked as far away as ever at half time in the game against Wrexham, but, come the final whistle, Blackpool were three points better off and celebrating.

Pool boss Colin Hendry manager said: "I'm delighted for the supporters more than anybody else.

"It's a relief for me obviously but I'm more delighted for the fans because they pay money to support the team and they have gone home a bit happier."

The Seasiders were dismal in the first half and could, quite easily, have been behind before the breakthrough for the visitors on 22 minutes.

Worryingly, the goal again came from a set-piece, with skyscraper-sized Dragons defender, Dennis Lawrence, flicking on at the near post for veteran striker, Chris Armstrong, to head home, although Alex Holt claimed the goal after getting the faintest of touches on the line.

What Blackpool needed after their half time rollicking from Colin Hendry was a bit of good fortune, and it arrived almost immediately.

Peter Clarke ghosted past the visiting defence to plant a firm header past the previously under-employed Matt Baker from a long free kick. None of Wrexham's three central defenders picked up the big man, and that seemed to affect the visiting team's performance from then on.

Another lapse in concentration, this time from the normally dependable Lawrence, allowed Blackpool to go ahead.

The Trinidadian international handled the ball inside the area from a short corner.

Scott Taylor stepped up to convert the penalty and, from then on, Blackpool's defenders did an admirable job of keeping Wrexham's lively strikers at bay to secure a first home three points of the season.

But secure isn't quite the right word - as Wrexham boss, Dennis Smith, pointed out afterwards: "This could be the last league game this club ever plays."

They face a £900,000 winding up petition from the Inland Revenue next Wednesday and, should they fail to provide the court with a solution, the troubled Welsh side could fold.

That would mean their league record for this season being expunged from the records - and the loss of three vital points for the Seasiders.

IT isn't quite written into the laws of football that a thrilling 6-3 victory will be followed by a dour 1-0 defeat, but it always seems to happen like that. And, indeed, that is what the Seasiders suffered at Chesterfield on Saturday.

A John Murphy-less Blackpool held their own for much of the game without ever really taking control.

But, with four minutes of second half injury time almost complete, debutant keeper Brad Jones, in on a season-long loan from Middlesbrough, came for and missed a long Chesterfield throw and the ball fell kindly for substitute Caleb Folan to tap in from closer range.

Blackpool rarely bring anything away from the drab surroundings of Saltergate, but to lose in this manner was particularly hard to take.

Blackpool FC is £5,000 worse off after being hit with an FA fine for failure to control its players during a brawl in last month's game against Colchester. The Essex side have been fined £6,000.

The Seasiders take a step into the unknown on Saturday when conference side Tamworth visit Bloomfield Road in the first round of the FA Cup. The Lambs are managed by former Birmingham City star Mark Cooper, son of ex-England man Terry and their most famous player is former West Brom and Bolton player Bob Taylor.

John Murphy may be fit to partner Pool's own goalscoring Taylor, while Keith Southern and Paul Warhurst will be closer to a start after playing a behind closed doors game in midweek.