Mellor: Pool's persistence paid off

Kelvin Mellor celebrates the goal which took Blackpool to the League Two play-off final

Gary Bowyer’s men came from behind in both legs of their League Two play-off semi-final clash against Luton Town to eventually triumph 6-5 on aggregate.

With just 14 minutes left on the clock in the decider at Kenilworth Road, Pool were 3-1 down on the night but fought back heroically to net twice to send them through to the final.

They kept on fighting until the very last second, with their winner coming in the fifth and final minute of stoppage time, and Mellor believes it’s that sort of attitude that sums up their season.

He said: “It’s just a great achievement. We knew what we had to do, we dug deep and we got the result. That’s all that mattered.

“I think it’s fair to say we’ve got good character. The lads did really well.

“It was tough at times earlier in the season when we got beat by Luton twice. But we dug deep, stuck together and won the tie.”

Mellor claimed the dramatic last-gasp winner as his goal only to see his header ricochet off a Luton defender, into the back of goalkeeper Stuart Moore and then into the net.

But ultimately neither Mellor or his team-mates cared whose goal it went down as.

Mellor added: “I thought it was my goal but I don’t care, it’s all about the lads and the team.

“I’m not really bothered who scored the goal to be honest, I’m just glad the team did the job.”

A final at Wembley caps off a fine season for Mellor, who picked up two major trophies at the club’s end-of-season awards’ night earlier this month.

He was voted The Gazette’s player of the season after receiving more than 50 per cent of a public vote and also took home the players’ player of the season award.

His performances were also recognised by his peers earlier this year when he was included in the PFA’s League Two team of the year.

Another player to be recognised was Brad Potts, who also picked up Sky Sports’ Man of the Match award for his performance in the second leg against Luton.

Speaking just after the final whistle, Potts said: “It’s unbelievable. Words can’t describe how good it feels.

“It’s a one-off at Wembley and we know we can beat anyone on the day.”

Tickets for Blackpool’s play-off final at Wembley go on general sale today. They are available to buy online at 8am before the ticket office opens at 9am. Telephone lines then open at 10am.

The ticket office will be open between the hours of 9am and 5.15pm throughout the week.