Doyle handed trial as Pool lose to Man United
Blackpool handed a trial to Isle of Man midfielder Conor Doyle as they lost 1-0 to Manchester United in the Lancashire Senior Cup.
Boss Neil McDonald watched on as the 25-year-old was given a run-out for an experienced Blackpool reserves side at Bloomfield Road.
Doyle, an unknown name in English football, has spent most of his playing days in college football in the USA with the American International College Yellow jackets.
Since returning home in 2014, the midfielder has been turning out of the IOM representative side.
He played alongside John Herron in midfield against a young United side, with McDonald and chairman Karl Oyston both watching on.
The likes of Charles Dunne, Martin Paterson, Uche Ikpeazu and Connor Oliver all got much-needed run-outs for Pool as they lost 1-0 to a young United side made up mainly of players from their U18 side.
After a competitive opening half the Seasiders looked much the better side after the break, with both Ikpeazu and Paterson going close.
But the tie was settled on 67 minutes when Scott McTominay tapped home after Demetri Mitchell’s effort was saved by Pool keeper Kyle Letheren.
Blackpool could have sent the game to penalties late on, only for Paterson to head wide from five yards after meeting a Rivers cross.
Pool: Letheren, Wilson, Oliver, Dunne, Higham, Rivers, Herron, Doyle, Samuel, Paterson, Ikpezu.