'This was about a release of emotion, not just three points': Matt Scrafton's verdict on Blackpool's dramatic late win against Bolton

“When Pool win a big match, savour it,” I wrote.

“For these are the moments you have inevitably missed during the last four years.”

Tuesday night’s last-minute winner from the boot of the ridiculously talented Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall provided one of those said occasions.

Just like that, in one fell swoop, Blackpool’s miserable last three months of form were all forgotten about. Well, for a few crazy, bonkers seconds anyway.

Let’s not get carried away, this was a hard-earned three points against the league’s bottom side.

Blackpool have now won two of their last 15 games in all competitions, those victories coming against the sides that have occupied the bottom two for the entirety of the campaign.

The Trotters have won just five games all season and, even without their 12-point deduction, would be staring down the barrel of relegation to the fourth tier.

But this wasn’t about the league table, or even the win in some respects, as badly needed as it was.

This was about a release of emotion, a reconnection between players and fans that sparked wild scenes of pandemonium among the home faithful.

It resulted in the North Stand resembling an assorted mass of distorted limbs as dozens surged down the stand to embrace Dewsbury-Hall and co.

It just makes it all the sweeter that this dramatic late victory came against a side with so much history and rivalry with the Seasiders.

Only a select number of clubs can taste success in a season, so it’s these type of moments that evoke such passion and emotion among lower league fans that don’t often have an awful lot to shout about.

This was a reward for those hardy souls that have traipsed down to the likes of Kingston upon Thames, Bristol, Oxford and Wycombe in recent weeks – four games that brought just one solitary point.

It was fitting that Dewsbury-Hall was the matchwinner for the Seasiders as his 89th-minute strike capped off another virtuoso display from the on-loan Leicester City man.

The 21-year-old, who ran the show once again in midfield, also bagged an assist for his sidekick’s opener by setting up Connor Ronan for his first-half thunderbolt.

But it is his decisive strike at the death that will be the lasting memory of what was another improved display from the Seasiders.

In the first half, Blackpool were as controlled and as assured as I’ve seen them this season, even if they were taking on a side that has now lost nine of their last 11 games.

David Dunn’s influence was clear to see, the caretaker boss making no secret of his desire to see Blackpool playing the ball on the deck with a much higher tempo.

Had the men in tangerine added a second after Ronan’s 13th-minute opener, his first goal for the club, this one would have ended far more comfortably for Dunn’s charges.

But it was a familiar tale as, once again, they were lacking that killer instinct in the final third.

It certainly would have been more comfortable for Pool had they been given a helping hand by the referee, who turned down not one, not two, but three separate penalty appeals in the opening 45 minutes. Two of them in particular looked blatant.

But, as exceptional as the Seasiders were in the opening half with their movement, their combination play and the quality from their Premier League loanees in midfield, they were equally as abject in the second period.

The Trotters came out with a point to prove at the start of the second half and you could see their belief growing as the game wore on.

Pool, meanwhile, were guilty of sitting too deep and inviting pressure on themselves, a tactic Dunn admitted post-match wasn’t purposeful.

Dunn’s men can’t say they weren’t given sufficient warning of Bolton’s 87th-minute equaliser, with winger Dennis Politic becoming increasingly influential down the left flank.

He came close to levelling when he was denied by the midriff of Chris Maxwell on the hourmark before Daryl Murphy came off the bench to head straight at the Pool keeper from just six yards out with 15 minutes to go.

Blackpool still found time to squander a priceless chance to add a second and put the game to bed before Bolton eventually equalised when Ronan blazed over when he was sent through one-on-one with Remi Matthews.

The home side were made to pay for that miss when Bolton eventually got themselves back on level terms three minutes from time, Kean Bryan inexplicably allowed to ghost into the Blackpool box unopposed to prod home at the back post.

It was another of those ‘here we go again’ moments that we’ve seen so often this season, most recently of which cost Simon Grayson his job in the 3-2 defeat to Gillingham earlier this month.

But thankfully there was still sufficient time remaining for Dewsbury-Hall to make himself the hero, slamming home high into the roof of the net after taking down a deep corner on the end of his toe like only he and Ronan could.

It meant the game ended 2-1, a familiar scoreline for the Seasiders in recent weeks – six of their last 11 games have ended that way.

This time, it went in Blackpool’s favour. But it’s not the scoreline that has people talking.