Blackpool overcome Leyton Orient in play-off final thriller to seal promotion to Division Two - on this day in 2001

Here's how the game unfolded...

Finals are always special occasions, but rarely has there been one more dramatic than this encounter at the Millennium Stadium.

This Third Division play-off final clash had absolutely everything -- a disastrous blunder, fight-backs, a fabulous finale and promotion for the Seasiders.

Wins against Rochdale, Barnet, Darlington and two play-off semi final victories over Hartlepool was followed by a dramatic 4-2 clincher in the final in which Pool twice had to come back from a goal behind.

An impressive 16,000 Blackpool supporters travelled to Cardiff for the Seasiders' biggest game in over a decade. Out-numbering their counterparts Leyton Orient by two to one, the Tangerine army was in full voice in a carnival atmosphere before the game.

On the pitch, the only surprise was the absence of left back Tommy Jaszczun's name on the team sheet. He was unable the play due to a stomach bug, so John Hills stepped in.

Apart from that the only change to McMahon's line-up was in the centre of defence where, as expected, club captain Ian Hughes was drafted in for Danny Shittu.

Blackpool got off to the worst possible start within 40 seconds.

Pool keeper Phil Barnes was expected to boot the ball upfield after a pass from Reid. But a mixture of the wet surface and big-game nerves got the better of Barnes and he slipped, allowing Chris Tate to intercept and run past Barnes.

The goal came so soon and so bizarrely, that it didn't seem to have an affect on the team. The supporters, who had travelled from all over the UK, were in full voice and within a few minutes Pool produced their first effort on goal.

The outstanding player of the match Paul Simpson struck an excellent clean strike which tested keeper Ashley Bayes at full stretch.

Danny Coid also showed he's not shy in front of goal with an ambitious volley from just outside the box which was equally well saved by Bayes.

But with Pool rampant and Orient producing little more than two headers over the bar, it seemed a Blackpool equaliser was on its way -- and it came on 35 minutes from Ian Hughes.

Bayes saved a Murphy shot well, but at the expense of a corner. Simpson was the provider with an excellent in-swinger met by Ian Hughes, who headed firmly past the keeper.

The Blackpool end of the Millennium Stadium erupted with noise and a chorus of chants taunted the silenced Orient fans. But the Seasiders supporters sang too soon as Leyton went back in front just minutes later.

Orient won two corners -- Brain Reid cleared the second corner to the edge of the box only for highly rated left back Matt Lockwood to pick the ball up on the right hand side.

Lockwood, who has attracted the interest of many top-flight clubs, played the ball short to Scott Houghton. In acres of space he picked his spot from just outside the box, giving Barnes no chance.

But the Seasiders were in no mood to lie down and five minutes later it was all square again. From another Simpson corner Brain Reid stuck a foot out to beat his marker David Mchee and volley into the net at the back post.

Going into half time, it was the Seasiders who looked like they were going to be team on top when the game resumed.

Blackpool didn't disappoint and at times in the second half they tore Orient apart. Simpson had a golden opportunity to put Pool ahead on the hour mark, but he strayed offside.

But Simpson was not to be denied again when 10 minutes later he put Pool ahead for the first time. Houghton was dispossessed in the Blackpool half by a combination of Clarkson and Wellens.

With the Orient defenders drawn into marking Ormerod, Simpson was left on his own and when Wellens finally threaded him through he was though on goal with just the keeper to beat.

If there's anyone with a cool head in front of goal, it's Paul Simpson and there was never any doubt that the ball would nestle in the back of the net -- and it did for 3-2.

Orient looked destroyed and it was inevitable Blackpool would finish the match off.

Indeed their fourth and best goal came with just two minutes left from who else but top goalscorer Brett Ormerod.

A raking pass down the left wing for Hills to chase followed a neat one two between Simpson and Murphy. After a quick look up Hills supplied a low first time ball across the box where Ormerod beat his marker to steer the ball past Hayes into the net.

After three minutes of injury time and 20 minutes of emphatic celebration the players and fans made their way back to the coaches, trains and planes to reflect on the season.

Indeed this game reflected the season as a whole - an awful start followed by an inconsistent middle and fantastic finale orchestrated by the fantastic Paul Simpson.

It's Division Two football next season.

TEAMS

Blackpool: Barnes, Hills, Parkinson, Hughes, Reid, Coid, Wellens, Clarkson, Simpson, Ormerod, Murphy

Leyton Orient: Bayes, Joseph, Lockwood, Smith, Downer, Harris, Walschaerts, McGhee, Houghton, Ibehre, Tate