WHEN Brett Ormerod's name was missing from the starting eleven for Tuesday night's LDV Vans Trophy game, Blackpool fans were given a sneak preview of what the team would be like if the Tangerines' top goalscorer was to leave Bloomfield Road.

As it happened, the replacement partnership of Murphy and Fenton worked well and the Seasiders notched up a three-goal lead before the hour mark.

But defensive frailties showed once again when Stoke were allowed to grab two goals back to make a nervy end for Steve McMahon's men.

The manager made several changes to his starting line-up. Along with the rested Ormerod, Paul Simpson was replaced by Mike Milligan and Phil Clarkson was given a rare start in place of John O'Kane.

The new-look Blackpool side started reasonably well with most of good play coming from Neil Mackenzie. But in the end it took a touch of class from Gary Parkinson for Blackpool to open the scoring.

The veteran right back left the Stoke defence for dead and ran through to coolly slot home his first goal of the season. Pool doubled their advantage nine minutes into the second half when Stoke keeper Gavin Ward failed to claim a Jamie Milligan corner. His scrambled clearance ricocheted off Stephen Caldwell and into the unguarded net -- a messy goal, and one what will leave Ward rather red-faced.

Blackpool went further ahead four minutes later when John Murphy coolly rounded the keeper and smashed the ball home after being played through on goal. It was Murphy's second of the season.

At that point the game looked all over, but Stoke had other ideas and pulled a goal back through Chris Iwelumo on 72 minutes. Ten minutes later a Lewis Neal penalty made it 3-2 and it seemed as though it was going to be one of those shaky endings.

However Stoke rarely threatened to equalise in the closing minutes and Steve McMahon's men hung on to progress into the next round.

By beating Stoke the Seasiders have, arguably, eliminated the strongest side in the Northern Section of the LDV Vans Trophy. Another trip to Cardiff is the prize for the finalists, so Blackpool can still hope for a repeat of the play-off heroics of last season.

RESULT: Blackpool 3 Stoke City 2

Scorers: Parkinson (44) Caldwell (54) Murphy (58)

Scorers: Iwelumo (72) Neal (pen 83)

Attendance: 3,561