AFC Blackpool 2 AFC Darwen 4: Second-half goals see Mechanics beaten

Manager Martin Baird welcomed new signings Joe Booth, Ryan White and Matt Lawlor into the starting XI with Billy McKenna playing up front on his return.

The two sides struggled to get going in the testing conditions but it was the visitors who eventually settled the better and opened the scoring after 10 minutes.

Keeper Will Marment went to punch clear a free-kick but misjudged the flight of the ball, which fell for Ben Langford to head into the empty net.

The visitors saw a penalty appeal waved away and were denied by a fine save from Marment but they doubled their lead on 33 minutes.

Defender Danny Ashburner was in the right place at the right time to hook the ball home when a corner fell kindly to him.

AFC reduced the scoreline just before half-time when McKenna picked up possession, played a one-two with Booth and then curled the ball home.

Trailing 2-1 at half-time, AFC almost equalised straight from the kick-off but McKenna was denied by the keeper.

White shot wide but AFC levelled on 50 minutes when McKenna was fouled and Jamie Thomas sent the free-kick into the top corner.

Thomas was then sent in one-on-one, but was thwarted by the keeper’s feet, before the visitors added a third.

Jamie Edwards, running clear after picking up the ball from an AFC attack, found Leon Creech who finished past Marment.

AFC, who had pushed forward looking for a late equaliser, were again hit on the break with Darwen scoring a fourth, Sam Knowles heading in.

AFC will be back in action at Garstang on December 28.

AFC Blackpool: Marment, Bishop, Ikin, Lawlor, Harrison, Sumner, Booth, Thomas, Morris, McKenna, White. Subs: Buchan, Hughes, Leyland, Duffield, Roberts.

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