Priceless points

And visiting manager Roy Macfarland paid the Tangerines the most ungracious of comments in defeat, as he slammed his own players for their performance. He said: "Blackpool are the worst team I have seen play in the past two years. The performance from my players was unacceptable and they will be back in for training on Sunday morning."

And rightly so. Cambridge United lacked any real formation on the pitch and lost the match in the opening 13 minutes.

The only way the visitors tried to advance up the pitch was to add ten yards to any throw-in or free kick awarded to them - something the match officials rarely picked up on.

But Tangerine coach Mike Davis was incensed and was repeatedly told by the fourth official to get back in his dugout.

David Bardsley sent a superb long pass across the pitch to force United into conceding a corner on nine minutes.

David Lee's inswinging cross was initially cleared, but his second cross was inch-perfect for John Murphy to head home.

Murphy rose high above the Cambridge defence and headed the ball fiercely down past a helpless Shaun Marshall. 1-0.

United couldn't muster a fight-back of any manner and Blackpool were rampant - their second goal was certain to arrive soon.

It took just four minutes for the Tangerines to exploit Cambridge's poor defending again.

Steve Bushell fed the ball down the left wing to John Hills and his cross was deflected into the path of Phil Clarkson, who slammed the ball into the back of the net from six yards.

Despite an inability to convert chances, Cambridge caused panic amid the Blackpool ranks on occasion. In the second minute, Michael Kyd sent a searching ball into the middle of Blackpool's penalty area, which Clark Carlisle thumped across the face of his own goal.

And on the stroke of half-time, Martin Butler found space and his powerful short from the right was met by a graceful dive by Tony Caig.

The visitors were a far more organised side in the second half but looked just as ineffective at finishing.

Kyd's hard work down the right was squandered on 60 minutes when Neil Mustoe's weak shot sailed over the bar.

Caig was Blackpool's saviour on 76 minutes when Paul Wanless rose to meet a corner and fired what looked like a dead-cert header towards the back of the net.

But the Blackpool stopper was in inspired form and he tipped the ball around the post.

The Tangerines were forced into making counter attacks as Cambridge piled on the pressure; Marshall made saves from Lee, John Durnin and John Hills, who excelled himself.

Hills made several silky runs down the left wing and on 70 minutes, deserved to have his name on the scoresheet as he rounded two players and let rip with a rocket of a shot.

As we all know with the Seasiders, there is usually a cliffhanger of a finish and Butler helped provided it when he managed to push the ball past Caig with his chest on 82 minutes. 2-1.

Hills again pushed down the left, beat two defenders and teed up Durnin, who shot straight at the keeper.

And on 90 minutes, sub Adam Nowland watched as his weak shot was cleared from the line by Marc Joseph.

Not vintage stuff from the Seasiders, but the three points against fellow strugglers are likely to be priceless by the end of the season.

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