WITH 91 minutes on the clock Blackpool were cruising to what would have been a well deserved 2-1 victory at Torquay this Bank Holiday Monday (August 28).
But just three minutes later not only had Blackpool been robbed of maximum points -- they ended up without any points at all!
To the astonishment of the 200 travelling supporters, Torquay sub Eifion Williams scored twice in injury time to give the home side a 3-2 victory.
The game started brightly for Pool with their first chance coming on seven minutes when the Seasiders were awarded a free kick. Bushell took what was obviously a rehearsed set piece and Richard Wellens shot over the bar.
Pool went ahead when Paul Simpson's cross was too long for John Murphy and fell to Steve Bushell who crossed back. Brett Ormerod met the ball and headed into the corner of the net. Pool squandered an array of chances and just before half time Brett Ormerod missed a golden opportunity to double their lead by firng wide with just the keeper to beat.
Within 10 minutes of the restart Torquay were level when French midfielder Habbib Sissoko scored the goal that brought the home side to life, and they could have had more before half-time.
Brett Ormerod led the Blackpool fight-back as he created havoc in the Torquay defence with his twists and turns. His brilliance finally made Torquay pay when he found himself at the edge of the box and unselfishly drilled the ball across the face of goal for Richard Wellens to score.
With Blackpool ahead again, the brilliant Ormerod blossomed. In one instance he left three players for dead before crossing a superb ball into the box.
One fan was so dazzled by the skills of Super Brett that he decided to streak on the pitch, causing the game to be held up - with disasterous consequences for Pool. Torquay made an inspired substitution, bringing on Eifion Williams. He immediately caused Blackpool problems before equalising in stoppage time. Just as Steve McMahon was shaking his head in disbelief Williams astonishingly got another with a screaming volley in the 93rd minute.
Torquay acted as if they'd won a cup final. Blackpool on the other hand were gutted, and who can blame them.
Steve McMahon claimed after the game that he was the most gutted of all about the outcome (pictured). In an interview with Radio Lancashire he was left almost speechless but somehow managed to pinpoint what had gone wrong.
"We need to finish teams off" he admitted, repeatingly saying that it was a game his team really should have won.
After a game like that you really must be worried about Blackpool's promotion credentials. Hopefully it will teach Steve McMahon's young side a few lessons that really should have been learned last year.
Team: Tony Caig, Tommy Jaszczun, Eifion Jones, Ian Hughes, Danny Coid, Paul Simpson, Steve Bushell, Richard Wellens, Mike Milligan, Brett Ormerod, John Murphy. Subs: Nowland for Ormerod (87), Clarkson for Milligan (75), Neil Murphy for Simpson (90).
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