Scunthorpe 1 – 0 Pool

Once again conceding a late goal means that the Seasiders League One status has still not been secured.

Simon Grayson was able to name an unchanged first eleven, Neil Wood was fit again to take his place on the bench after he had missed the previous match with a back strain.

First Half

Scunthorpe had the better of what was a dire first half with Pool only managing one shot which went wide.

Young striker Billy Sharpe, who has scored 22 goals this season nearly added to that tally twice in the first half. A cross by Cleveland Taylor found Sharpe in the box but he could only direct his header wide of Lee Jones’ goal.

His second chance was a shot from out side of the box, it fizzed wide to the relief of the travelling support.

All in all a pretty disappointing first half not helped by Scunthorpe’s lack of urgency due to them being in mid

Half time scores were going well for us, Rotherham were losing to Colchester 1-0. Yeovil were losing Huddersfield 1-0 too. This would mean at half time as the results stood we would be safe bar MK-Dons winning their last game of the season by 13 goals.

Second Half

Richard Hinds had the first opportunity in the second half to break the deadlock, his surging run resulted in a shot which fizzed over the bar.

Andrew Keogh then managed to test Lee Jones, his shot was well saved by the big welsh keeper, he managed to palm the ball away for a corner.

Else were in country goals were flying in, Swindon took the lead at Bristol moving them on to 49 points, Colchester extended their lead over Rotherham thanks to a goal from Mark Yates.

Kieran Donnelly picked up his third booking of the season for arguing with the referee after he fouled Stephen Foster.

That was Donnelly’s last action of the half as he was replaced by Matt Blinkhorn, Parker filled the right wing position letting Blinkhorn partner Williams upfront.

Veteran Peter Beagrie replaced Richard Hinds, which meant Sparrow moved into the middle of the park.

Andrew Keogh had his second chance of the half, good work down the wing resulted in a shot, in retrospect Keogh should of crossed to Sharpe who was well placed at the far post.

Cleveland Taylor was replaced by striker Steve Torpey, the move by manager Brian Laws showed that the Iron were after all three points in the last game of the season at Glanford Park.

Sharpe had his best chance of the afternoon to break the deadlock, a shot by Sharp was drilled right-footed straight at Lee Jones who was able to hold on to the ball.

Rory Prendergast was replaced by Stockley with five mites remaining and Scunthorpe made their final change of the afternoon Richie Ryan replaced Ian Baraclough.

But as ever with the Pool this season in the last few minutes we managed to concede, Billy Sharpe who had numerous chances to score all after noon had one more and made no mistake from close range to grab his 23rd goal of the season.

Summary

It wasn’t to be the last few moments of the match at Glanford Park which were the most eventful in league one. A David Partridge own goal on 89 minutes gave Tranmere the lead over MK-Dons, Dons then equalised thanks to a goal McLeod and the final twist in the game at the National Hockey Stadium was a late winner for Tranmere from Delroy Facey.

Harltepool grabbed a late equaliser at Brentford, the other games affected us finished Bristol City 1 ? 1 Swindon, Colchester 2 ? 0 Rotherham and Huddersfield 1 ? 2 Yeovil.

All these means is the table looks like this.

19 Blackpool -8 52
20 Rotherham -10 51
21 Hartlepool -15 49
22 MK-Dons -21 49
23 Swindon -19 47
24 Walsall -22 47

All this means that Hartlepool can catch us with just but this would need a large swing in the goal difference using losing 4-0 and Hartlepool wining 4-0 would see us relegation, that can?t happen, can it?

Scunthorpe
Evans, C Byrne, A Crosby, S Foster, M Williams, C Taylor (79 S Torpey) , R Hinds (74 P Beagrie) , I Baraclough (87 R Ryan) , M Sparrow, A Keogh, B Sharp
Subs: J Lillis, N Stanton, S Torpey, R Ryan, P Beagrie

Blackpool
Jones, M Joseph, P Clarke, R Edwards, J Wilcox, C Donnelly (65 K Lasley) , M Bean, K Southern, R Prendergast (86 S Stockley) , K Parker, G Williams (66 M Blinkhorn)
Subs: L Pogliacomi, S Stockley, N Wood, M Blinkhorn, K Lasley