Tangerines run riot in rampant first half

BLACKPOOL boss Terry McPhillips hailed a ruthless first half from his side as three goals in the first 24 minutes sealed their FA Cup first round win at Exeter City.

“It was a good first half,” McPhillips said. “We were clinical, I don’t think we were three goals better than them, but we took our chances so it was a professional first half.

“In the second half it was always going to be difficult and it was about who gets the next goal.

“It was them so it was always a close game. The stats will tell you that there was nothing in it, what was in it was our clinical nature in the first half.”

Blackpool came flying out of the traps and took the lead within the first three minutes. Harry Pritchard’s deep cross was headed back by John O’Sullivan and Joe Dodoo rose highest to plant a header past goalkeeper James Hamon.

Blackpool continued to attack at will and from one of many corners they won all afternoon, Mark Cullen got to the ball ahead of Hamon to bundle the ball in and double the Tangerines’ lead.

Jon Forte missed a great chance to pull a goal back for Exeter, who then found themselves 3-0 down after 24 minutes when they lost possession cheaply, Blackpool broke at pace and the ball was crossed to Pritchard to convert at the back post from close range.

Exeter gave it a go after half-time and pulled one back when Archie Collins was tripped by Ryan McLaughlin. The referee gave the penalty, which was missed by Pierce Sweeney, but Jordan Tillson reacted quickest to convert the loose ball.

Tristan Abrahams then curled in a beauty from 25 yards in the 90th minute to make it 3-2, but, despite pressure in stoppage time, Exeter could not find an equaliser.

Exeter manager Matt Taylor bemoaned his side’s poor start to the game.

“Three goals in quick succession in that first half took us out the game, it’s a simple as that,” he said.

“No matter how well you play in the second half, you don’t deserve to get back in the game if you don’t give yourself a chance and we certainly did that.

“It’s the basics that we have got to do better. I said it last week and I said it the week before, and I sound like a broken record at the moment.”