A BREATHTAKING finale at Bloomfield Road saw the Seasiders snatch victory in injury time through Clarke Carlisle for a 2-1 scoreline.

Eighteen-year-old Carlisle, who was playing in his first full home game, hardly put a foot wrong for 90 minutes and capped his performance with the winning header from Micky Mellon's corner.

Just 60 seconds earlier Pool fans thought they would have to share the points with United when Mark Bonner was judged to have brought down Matt Jansen in the area.

Owen Archdeacon stepped up to take the spot kick and although Steve Banks went the right way he could not stop United levelling the scores.

Blackpool had led from the 20th minute when Tony Ellis added to his mid-week hat-trick with a close range strike after Carlisle had put him through.

But it was the visitors who had the first chance to break the deadlock after just five minutes.

Jansen played a neat one-two with Warren Aspinall but his 20-yard strike hit the post.

Tony Butler's header from player manager Nigel Worthington's free kick forced a great reflex save from Tony Caig on 15 minutes.

Phil Clarkson had a great opportunity to double Pool's lead on the half-hour mark but he blasted straight at Caig from six yards.

The Seasiders also had the better of the chances in the second half.

Gary Brabin's 25-yard strike on 62 minutes forced another great save from Caig and seven minutes from time Mellon powered his way into the penalty area from his own half but his shot was straight at the in-form keeper.

On Saturday (September 13) Blackpool travel to meet Wigan Athletic.

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