Jack Beresford reports as Sandbach's first fixture of a four-game week started with a draw on the Lancashire coast. Stuart Tullochs first half wonder goal was cancelled out by a second half strike from Blackpool midfielder Zak Hargreaves.

Sandbach hadn't played in two weeks and it was obvious that they were the fresher of the two sides when they almost took the lead after just one minute when a low cross from the left by Ryan Allcock was almost deflected into the goal by Blackpool defender Stephen Betteridge, but thankfully for him it just went wide of the right post.

Sandbach started the brighter of the two teams and went close for a second time when James Kirby won the ball back in the opposition half and drove into the box, although his shot from 12 yards was straight at the Blackpool keeper Callum Kirkland who was able to save easily.

In the 20th minute Sandbach broke the deadlock when a long ball aimed at Kirby was overhit and Kirkland came rushing off his line to clear the ball away. Unfortunately for him his clearance fell to Stuart Tulloch who was able to bring the ball down and then shoot almost from the halfway line, his shot flew over the keeper who was in no mans land and just crept under the bar making it 1-0 to United.

After the goal Sandbach continued to pile on the pressure as they tried to double their lead. They almost did this three minutes after the goal when Tulloch found Kirby on the edge of the box with his back to goal, Kirby turned well and hit a shot that was expertly saved by Kirkland in the Blackpool goal.

In the 39th minute the game changed when the referee showed a red card to Sandbach right back Matty Pearson, Pearson was adjudged to push the face of Blackpool player Matt Cassidy, even though Cassidy didn’t go down like many players would do nowadays, the referee still viewed the incident to be malicious which is why he showed Pearson the red card.

At half time Sandbach were a goal up but a man down. Blackpool dominated possession in the early stages of the second half. In the 62nd minute they made their possession count when Zak Hargreaves found space on the edge of the box and he drilled the ball low and hard past Ryan Moss in the Sandbach goal sending the infamous tin hut brigade delirious.

The ten men of Sandbach were up against it, Blackpool had the momentum and the extra man, and they were looking to get that winning goal. Although it was Sandbach who nearly took the lead against the run of play when substitute Chris Smith latched onto a loose pass and drove into the box, although his shot was straight at the Blackpool goalkeeper.

With 10 minutes to go Blackpool had a glorious chance to steal a winner when Kit Gregory played through Conah Bishop who beat Ryan Moss to the ball and got a shot away, although his close-range shot was saved the face of Moss, sparking a chorus of “Ryan Moss, he saves with his face” from the Blackpool fans behind the goal.

In the dying moments of the game James Kirby had a final chance to win the game for Sandbach as a cross was cleared to Ryan Cattermole who sent it back into the box, his ball in found Kirby at the back post who was able to bring the ball down and then shoot, although his shot was again straight at Kirkland.

The game ended 1-1, Sandbach had plenty of chances to win the game although they failed to take these, despite playing all the second half with 10 men Sandbach battled well for a draw.

Manager Andy Hockenhull will be hoping to see the same fighting spirit in all the remaining games of this season.

The Sandbach United 1st team would like to thank Planet Environmental, RK Henshall Insurance Brokers and The Ganges for their support.

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Match Report: Jack Beresford