THE Seasiders progress through to the Third Round of the FA Cup with a comfortable 2-0 win over Rochdale at Bloomfield Road.

Paul Simpson was the hero of the day, scoring one goal and setting up the other in an excellent return to form from the veteran midfielder.

The goals and majority of Blackpools chances all came in the first half. Steve McMahon had sent out his players in a 5-4-1 formation with Murphy playing as a lone striker. From the start Simpson showed what was to come when he came close with an ambitious strike after 5 minutes.

Mackenzie, Murphy and Collins also had attempts at goal but Pool were finding it difficult to put pressure on Dale keeper Wayne Evans despite having the majority of possession.

But Pool soldiered on and after 20 minutes their patience paid off when John Murphy opened the scoring. A ball into the box came out to Collins who turned it back out to the left to Simpson. Simpson clipped in an inch perfect cross to the far post for Murphy to steer the ball past Evans for 1-0 to Pool.

Pool scored a second quarter of an hour later and this one was a goal of the season contender from Paul Simpson. Simpson received the ball about 40 yards out and first showed superb vision by spotting the keeper off his line and then demonstrated excellent technique by having the ability to hook the ball and lob the ball into the empty net.

Blackpool werent as dominate in the second half as they took the foot off the pedal a little, obviously content to protect their 2-goal advantage. Still, the Seasiders produced the best chances of either side and managed to hit the woodwork 3 times. The closest of the three came from a delightful curler from the outside foot of Paul Simpson, which came agonisingly back off the inside of the post.

Blackpool are now in the hat for the third round draw, a draw against a Premier League would do nicely. Who knows, a draw at home to Southampton could see an unexpected early return for Brett Ormerod to the Fylde Coast!

BLACKPOOL 2

Murphy (22), Simpson (39)

ROCHDALE 0