Match report: Squires Gate 1 AFC Blackpool 0

Gate took the bragging rights from this pre-season meeting of the Blackpool non-league rivals.
Gary Pett of Squires Gate saw this header saved  Picture: ALBERT COOPERGary Pett of Squires Gate saw this header saved  Picture: ALBERT COOPER
Gary Pett of Squires Gate saw this header saved Picture: ALBERT COOPER

The teams have not met competitively since Blackpool’s relegation three seasons ago, and although both had chances it was Dean Ing who made one count before half-time.

Gate manager Andy Clarkson continued to try out new ideas as Tarren Moxon and Gary Pett made their first pre-season appearance.

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After an early alarm in the home box, Gate had the first real chance when Brett Dawson headed a Moxon cross wide after 12 minutes.

Home keeper Ben Fletcher was first called into action five minutes later but the AFC shot flew straight into his arms.

Gate scored the winner on 38 minutes as Ing, one of several former AFC players in their team, threw himself towards Adam Sumner’s left-wing cross to head home at the far post.

They had a good chance to double their lead five minutes into the second half, when a corner fell to Dawson at the back post but the striker fired into the side-netting.

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Pett, who was Gate’s top scorer last season, then came on and soon made an impact, heading the wrong side of the post from Moxon’s cross after Dave Rossall had also headed wide from a corner.

Both side had efforts saved, scorer Ing seeing an effort smothered while former Gate striker Jack Williams shot straight at Fletcher.

A last-ditch tackle from substitute Seydou Bamba denied AFC another shooting opportunity as the last chance of the afternoon fell to Gate, Matty Kay’s shot comfortably saved.

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