A GOAL in the second minute of first half stoppage time was all that separated the team in this scrappy encounter on the Fylde coast.

The first period saw few chances with the best coming from Blackpool’s Ben Bradley who struck wide with only ‘keeper Williams to beat. Town went close midway through the half when a Furling shot from distance looked bound for the bottom corner before an outstretched boot deflected the ball wide of the upright.

The home side took the lead in fortuitous circumstance as the half drew to a close.

A Blackpool corner found Bradley whose speculative overhead head kick looked to be going well wide before a wicked deflection wrong footed Williams and saw the ball nestle in the net.

The second period saw Town dominate possession for long spells but the usually impressive Jepson Way playing surface left a lot to be desired and Town struggled to produce the flowing football of recent games.

Danny Lomax came closest for Town with a 20 yard strike which beat Cameron in the Blackpool goal but rattled off the cross bar before being cleared.

The final chance of the game came from Andy Presho who looked well placed for a strike on goal having picked up a loose ball in the box but with the ‘keeper stranded he held on too long and a scrambling defence rescued the situation for the home side.