Cullen returns to haunt Luton with a hat-trick as Carlisle stage fightback
Mark Cullen scored a hat-trick against his former side to give Blackpool the edge over Luton after the first leg of their League Two play-off semi-final.
Cullen’s final goal from the penalty spot gave Blackpool a 3-2 lead to take to Kenilworth Road on Thursday night.
The striker, 25, who spent two seasons with Luton before joining Blackpool in 2015, scored from inside the penalty area after 19 minutes. However, Luton – who finished seven points better off during the regular season – went in ahead at half-time thanks to goals from Dan Potts and Isaac Vassell.
Yet it was to be Cullen’s day as his fine 25-yard strike brought Blackpool level two minutes into the second half before he calmly sent goalkeeper Stuart Moore the wrong way from the penalty spot to give Gary Bowyer’s side a narrow advantage for the second leg.
“It was nice to get the goals, they are always an added bonus,” Cullen told Sky Sports afterwards. Of his second goal, he said: “I haven’t scored many better than that. As soon as it left my foot, I knew it was in the top corner.”
Blackpool’s midfielder Neil Danns, 34, believed it was one of the finest games he had been involved in. “I can imagine it was a great game for the neutrals and for those watching,” Danns said. “It’s probably one of the best games I’ve been involved in, in a while. We’re under no illusions that the tie is finished though.”
In the day’s other game Carlisle League One final Sat, 3pm
Bradford v Millwall
League Two semi-final second legs Thurs, 7.45pm:
Luton (2) v Blackpool (3). Exeter (3) v Carlisle (3) scored twice in two minutes to salvage a 3-3 draw against Exeter at Brunton Park
Joel Grant headed Exeter into an early lead but Jordan Moore-taylor’s own goal brought the home side level.
It seemed Exeter had taken a hold on the tie as Ryan Harley and David Wheeler scored either side of half-time, but Carlisle began their fightback when John O’sullivan’s overhit cross found the back of the net in the 71st minute before substitute Shaun Miller made it 3-3.
Exeter had two further goals disallowed for tight offside calls and hit the post through Jake Taylor, leaving it all square heading into Thursday’s second leg. However, O’sullivan believes Carlisle now have the edge after their comeback.
“That’s three times they’ve been beating us and we’ve come back, and that has to be in their heads now every time they go ahead,” the Carlisle midfielder said. “There was a bit of luck on our side today – we’re happy with the result and we go again on Thursday.”
Miller added: “We’ve got to be happy, being 3-1 down – it was as open a game as you’re going to get.”
Asked if he thought the tie was over at 3-1, the Exeter manager, Paul Tisdale, said: “Not at all. I have been doing this too long now to think that 3-1 is a done deal. I have got very little to complain about in terms of how the players played.”