AFC Liverpool v AFC Blackpool, 14th April 2010


For this AFC Liverpool from Yesteryear post, we look back to April 2010 and the beginning of the Paul Moore era. Mooresy’s first home match (as Caretaker Manager) was against AFC Blackpool in the Semi-Final of the First Division Trophy.

AFC Liverpool had started the Paul Moore era off with a win at Leek CSOB the previous Saturday.  As I had not made that particular trip, the First Division Trophy Semi-Final against AFC Blackpool was to be my first taste of life under Mooresy as Manager.  On my walk from Prescot Station to Valerie Park Stadium, I ended up unexpectedly talking to a Prescotian about AFC Liverpool and why I supported them. 
The fella initially spotted my red scarf and was quite impressed, only to question what AFC Liverpool is all about when he realised why I was in Prescot.  To be fair to him though, he did listen.  He told me that he watched the Cables fairly regularly, but had also made the odd visit to Valerie and watch the non-league mighty reds also.  When I told him that AFC had just made a managerial change, he indicated his surprise and indicated that he may even pop along in a bit.  Whether he did or not, all I can say is I did not see him when I was in the ground.
Due to postponements earlier in the season, this tie would only be played over one leg.  It was the visitors who took an early lead through Marc Beattie.  How the linesman did not flag for offside was a complete mystery. Aat least that was how I saw it at the time. 
We were soon level through Andy McCoy, who went on to get a second to put the Reds in front.  Both McCoy goals also had a bit of an assist from Karl Gornell. 
Blackpool came close to equalising when a header hit the post, I believe following a corner.  After surviving that scare AFC were soon 3-1 to the good.  It was in fact a very questionable goal, in terms of the old who dunnit question.  The true identity of the scorer is still unknown to this very day. It was Todd Bamber's shot which bounced off the bar, and maybe over the line, before Andy Olsen headed in the rebound to be officially credited as the scorer.
Andy McCoy with his runs, was a constant threat to the visitors throughout.  Our best second half chance came when an Andy Olsen shot was headed off the line, after Todd Bamber took the ball past the Blackpool Keeper. 
Blackpool themselves had a good second half spell, which saw one effort ruled out for offside.  After that the game petered out really, and AFC Liverpool saw out the game and gained the opportunity later in the month to become the first side to retain the First Division Trophy.

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