Squires Gate v AFC Liverpool, 6th September 2014

 I met Alan Harrison at Huyton Station, who was driving myself and Steve Fraser to Blackpool.  On arriving in Blackpool it was first lunch at the Shovels, followed by the walk to the ground.  This was my first visit to Squires Gate FC, and it was pretty clear as I entered their ground that we enjoyed a warmer relationship with this club than we did with the other lot 300 yards away.  I even shook hands with the Chairman!

Very little was created in the first half, prompting one of Dave Mac's favourite lines about a 3-3 or a 4-4 being on the cards!  In reality, we did have a number of long balls going nowhere, as was the case the previous Saturday at Abbey Hey.  We did create the better chances though, as both Ryan Cox and Ronnie Morgan went close.  One unfortunate note from the first half saw their left back needing to be sent off to hospital, after coming off badly in a clash of heads with Mike Girvan.
Today was also Non-League Day, and I spoke to a Blackpool FC Fan at half time.  He hadn't been to watch a match at this level before, and was surprised by the standard.  The future of Blackpool FC's Manager was very much up in the air on that day, as they had lost all six of their Championship matches so far.  Along with another local guy who was sat next myself and the fellow rattlers, the Blackpool Fan felt we should have been in front.
The local guy who was sat next to myself and the other rattlers, turned out not to be a Squires Gate fan.  He was in fact a Liverpool FC fan who also watched AFC Fylde, and had family connections to Merseyside.  He enquired about when we were due to play AFC Blackpool in the league.  As well as filling him in on the date, I also informed him that we haven't always had the best relationship with Gate's near neighbours.  The chap subsequently indicated that his motivation to attend that fixture had just been increased! 
Two quick goals after the break by Ronnie and Ryan saw us establish a 2-0 lead.  We were totally transformed and on top, prompting Dave Mac to chant that we were on our way to Wembley!  Whilst we were so on top, I stated to Alan Williams that we really should get a third whilst we were so dominant. 
As it turned out, Gate suddenly fashioned a one on one chance, but were denied by Ryan Jones.  Not long afterwards, we did make it 3-0 courtesy of Ryan Cox, who finished after being played in against the keeper.  Alan Harrison later said it may have been offside.
With about six minutes to go, AFC looked safely through to the next round.  And what a turnaround from three weeks previous when Gate won 3-0 at College Road to dump us out of the FA Cup.  Then Gate got two quick goals back.  The second saw Ryan Jones drop a clanger from a cross! 
Thankfully that error did not undo a commanding AFC performance, and the final word went to that man Ryan Cox who converted a last minute penalty to complete his hat-trick, and set up a trip to Atherton Colleries in the next round.

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