BLACKPOOL 2 READING 0

JUST when the Tangerines needed it, along came an easy three points on Saturday (April 10) which should ensure Division Two football next year.

Martin Aldridge was back in form to put the Seasiders in front from the penalty spot with his 10th of the season, before leaving the field in agony on 42 minutes.

He and Chris Casper went for a through ball from Phil Clarkson and they were both left writhing around on the pitch.

And it was testament to Aldridge's luck this season that Casper continued and he was left hobbling off the pitch.

The first 20 minutes of the match saw a lot of action down the right wing with Junior Bent and Marvin Bryan both going close.

Bryan particularly was unlucky to score with a 25-yard effort shaving the post on 18 minutes and a superb solo run five minutes later which had all but 'keeper Scott Howie beat. It was nice to watch a match and see the Seasiders endeavouring to shake off past poor performances.

Most improved was John Hills, who, it has to be said, has been going through a tough time recently with crosses rarely hitting the mark.

This match though saw Hills back in the form with which he came to Bloomfield Road. His tackling and pace down the left flank were nothing short of superb.

Clark Carlisle too appears to have put some of his ghosts to rest with a fine display in defence alongside an equally-impressive Julian Watts.

Blackpool's second goal came from Phil Clarkson two minutes after the break. Clarkson somehow managed to reach Brett Ormerod's last-gasp cross to beat Howie - who was having a bad day to say the least.

And at 2-0, the Royals were flattered. Blackpool could have scored several more with efforts from Hills, Bryan, Rogan, Malkin and Ormerod all worthy of a goal.

Reading's most dangerous player, Keith Scott, had his best effort disallowed for offside ten minutes before the final whistle.

In the first half, he headed over the bar twice but otherwise didn't prove too great a threat.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.