JOEY’S JOY OVER DERBY THRILLER
JOEY Barton hailed his history boys and said their first ever Fylde coast derby win over their old rivals Blackpool is for the people of Fleetwood.
Ten years ago Blackpool had just been promoted to the Premier League while Town were promoted from the Conference North.
This was the fifth meeting between the two in the third tier.
And Barton was pleased to make history, as goals from Wes Burns in the fifth minute, Ross Wallace in the 11th minute, and substitute Paddy Madden’s 57th-minute strike were enough to edge it.
The Seasiders fought back with goals from Ben Thompson in the 35th minute and Nathan Delfouneso in the 59th minute, making it 3-2 in an enthralling derby.
Barton said: “For me I am new to this area but I was aware of the importance of this fixture certainly for the football club and the owner and the supporters.
“The really pleasing thing for me is to be part of the group that is the first Fleetwood Town side to beat Blackpool.
“History and firsts in football are rare over the course of your career.
“To be part of the group it is a real privilege.”
Fleetwood shocked Blackpool early on with an electric start.
Burns did the damage, dancing past a host of Blackpool players before drilling the ball into the bottom right corner.
Wallace gave Town the allimportant second in the 11th minute, thundering the ball past Mark Howard from distance.
Fleetwood looked to be roaring comfortably on to their first ever Fylde coast derby league win.
But Blackpool woke up as the second half progressed, with Thompson bundling home a Delfouneso centre from the left.
Fleetwood substitute Madden netted his sixth of the term, sliding home a sublime Ash Hunter pull-back in the 58th minute.
But Blackpool replied a minute later, with Delfouneso beating Cairns.
Fleetwood coach Clint Hill had been sent from the dugout after picking up a yellow card for pushing Marc Bola.
Blackpool finished the game with 10 men after Armand Gnaduillet was sent off after an incident with James Husband.
Blackpool boss Terry McPhillips was disappointed with the defeat, referee John Brooks and with Gnaduillet’s late red card.
He said: “We’re mega-disappointed, we’ve lost a big derby.
“I thought the referee was poor and I thought there were two obvious fouls before their two first goals.
“The second one, he doesn’t just block him, he grabs him around the waist. So I thought that was embarrassing.
“It’s not the referee’s fault that we didn’t play so well for 25 minutes. I’m not blaming the ref but I don’t think he’s had a good game.”