AFC Blackpool v AFC Liverpool, 12th August 2012, FA Cup
AFC Liverpool progressed to play landlords Prescot Cables in an historic FA Cup meeting, courtesy of a convincing 6-3 thumping of AFC Blackpool at the Mechanics Ground. Coincidentally, this was AFC's second 6-3 victory over the Seasiders. The first 6-3 which was also at the Mechanics Ground, was four years earlier in a league fixture during the Little Reds' inaugural season.
The Reds raced into a 2-0 lead within the first quarter of an hour, courtesy of goals from Mukhtar Muhama and John Lawless. The first goal marked a fine contribution from a player who was to go on and make a big impact during the 2012/13 season. That player was Shaun Harris, who was deputising for the injured Darren Torpey, and he worked hard down the left to cross. Although the Blackpool defence initially cleared, the ball fell to Mukhtar to give us the lead.
Lawless scored a fairly routine goal to make it 2-0, and I do recall someone on or near the Blackpool dugout throw a bottle of water at that point. I did note that their Manager Stuart Parker was watching the match just a little bit away from their bench. This was due to a touchline ban. Following Lawless's strike, the Reds then seemed fairly comfortable for a while, and Dan Wilkinson's shot from distance curled just over.
With a few minutes to go before half time, the direction of the match seemed that it could change as a penalty was awarded to the home side. I felt it to be the correct decision, but the ref at first looked like he was not going to give it. As it seemed we may have got a let off, the linesman effectively influenced the ref to give the penalty. This resulted in an incident on the bench which saw Mooresy (our Manager) given his marching orders!
Although Blackpool scored from the penalty to reduce the Reds' lead at the break, the game fortunately did not turn. The Reds took control again, to go into a 5-1 lead. Franny Barry hit a couple in the space of four minutes.
Subsequently, Lawless also got his second of the afternoon. The man himself completed his hat-trick with ten minutes to go, after the hosts had got another back. The player who particularly stood out for me that afternoon was Mukhtar, who had an involvement in at least a couple of the second half goals.
The scoring was ended with five minutes to go with a consolation beauty volley from Blackpool's Marc Beattie. The match ended and the two banned managers embraced. As I left the Mechanics Ground, I had a bit of good banter with some of the locals. All in all, a good day to be beside the seaside.
The Reds raced into a 2-0 lead within the first quarter of an hour, courtesy of goals from Mukhtar Muhama and John Lawless. The first goal marked a fine contribution from a player who was to go on and make a big impact during the 2012/13 season. That player was Shaun Harris, who was deputising for the injured Darren Torpey, and he worked hard down the left to cross. Although the Blackpool defence initially cleared, the ball fell to Mukhtar to give us the lead.
Lawless scored a fairly routine goal to make it 2-0, and I do recall someone on or near the Blackpool dugout throw a bottle of water at that point. I did note that their Manager Stuart Parker was watching the match just a little bit away from their bench. This was due to a touchline ban. Following Lawless's strike, the Reds then seemed fairly comfortable for a while, and Dan Wilkinson's shot from distance curled just over.
With a few minutes to go before half time, the direction of the match seemed that it could change as a penalty was awarded to the home side. I felt it to be the correct decision, but the ref at first looked like he was not going to give it. As it seemed we may have got a let off, the linesman effectively influenced the ref to give the penalty. This resulted in an incident on the bench which saw Mooresy (our Manager) given his marching orders!
Although Blackpool scored from the penalty to reduce the Reds' lead at the break, the game fortunately did not turn. The Reds took control again, to go into a 5-1 lead. Franny Barry hit a couple in the space of four minutes.
Subsequently, Lawless also got his second of the afternoon. The man himself completed his hat-trick with ten minutes to go, after the hosts had got another back. The player who particularly stood out for me that afternoon was Mukhtar, who had an involvement in at least a couple of the second half goals.
The scoring was ended with five minutes to go with a consolation beauty volley from Blackpool's Marc Beattie. The match ended and the two banned managers embraced. As I left the Mechanics Ground, I had a bit of good banter with some of the locals. All in all, a good day to be beside the seaside.
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