Hurst Green 2 AFC Blackpool 5: Back-to-back pre-season wins for Mechanics

AFC Blackpool made it back-to-back pre-season wins with a 5-2 success at Hurst Green.

Much like the previous Saturday’s win over a Blackpool FC youth side, AFC started at a fast tempo and took the game to the hosts.

Key Leyland showed clever feet to get into the box and was the first player to test the Hurst Green keeper.

Leyland had another chance moments later but headed over from Carnan Dawson’s cross into the box.

And it was Leyland who opened the scoring with a header from Jamie Thomas’ corner, despite home protests that the ball had not crossed the line.

AFC didn’t have to wait long for a second as Dawson found Billy McKenna with a clever ball in behind, and his chip to the back post was converted by a triallist after 20 minutes.

The visitors went close to increasing their lead further before half-time but Ben Roberts fired a long-range effort wide and Leyland’s back-heel from six yards rebounded off a post.

Manager Martin Baird made only one change at half-time, Alex Cameron replacing Dan Hall in goal.

The hosts started the second half with more intensity and pulled one back from a corner on 56 mintues.

The two-goal cushion was restored moments later from a corner at the other end, the triallist scoring his second from Fran Donaghy’s miskick.

Poor defending from a corner resulted in another goal on 65 minutes, Hurst Green making it 3-2. Another Thomas corner almost produced another goal but substitute Mark Buchan couldn’t keep his header down.

Buchan was more clinical in the 78th minute after good work by Ben Duffield to close down the home keeper and win back the ball.

Duffield completed the scoring himself, controlling the ball on the edge of the box before firing home.

Blackpool: Hall, Simmons, Triallist, Triallist, Dawson, McKenna, Robinson, Thomas, Roberts, Triallist, Leyland; Subs: Cameron, Charnley, Buchan, Duffield