REPORT: Blackpool 3-0 Cheltenham Town
Cheltenham Town went down 3-0 to Blackpool on a difficult afternoon at Bloomfield Road.The Seasiders were two ahead at the interval thanks to strikes from Mark Cullen and Clark Robertson.
A goal from Neil Danns then wrapped up the win for Gary Bowyer’s side midway through the second half.
The result means that The Robins are four points clear of the relegation zone going into next weekend’s clash with Hartlepool.
Blackpool had the first chance of the game after quarter of an hour when it took a fantastic save from Scott Brown to keep out Nathan Delfouneso’s header.
Five minutes later the home side went even closer to opening the deadlock when Danns unleashed a shot from the edge of the box, but his effort rebounded back off the post.
With 28 minutes on the clock The Seasiders finally did manage to take the lead though, as Jordan Cranston’s clearance inside the six yard box hit Cullen and flew into the back of the net.
And it didn’t take long for them to get a second goal as a save from Brown and a series of blocks off the line kept out an initial bombardment of shots, but Robertson was eventually on hand to smash it into the roof of the net.
In the 40th minute Cheltenham had a chance to get back in the game as Winchester picked up the ball and drove towards goal, but his effort was deflected into the hands of Sam Slocombe and cleared away to send Blackpool in 2-0 up at the break.
After half time The Robins came out firing and went close to pulling a goal back when Winchester’s ball into the box crashed against the crossbar.
But it was Blackpool who got the third of the afternoon on 62 minutes when Colin Daniel’s cross was tapped in by Danns.
Cheltenham did have a good opportunity to grab a goal when Jack Munns’ corner found the head of Will Boyle, but his effort was superbly palmed away by Slocombe and the home side held out to claim the three points.
Blackpool FC: S Slocombe, K Mellor, A Taylor (C), C Robertson, B Potts, M Cullen (K Vassell, 78), T Aldred, C Daniel (B Oyasi-Samuel, 79), J Payne, N Delfouneso, N Danns (I Black, 81).
Unused Subs: D Lyness, W Aimson, J Flores, A Gnanduillet.
Cheltenham Town: S Brown, W Boyle, M Onariase, J Cranston (L Davis, 63), C Winchester, J Rowe, K Storer (C), H Pell (J Munns, 69), B Waters (J Dayton, 63), D Wright, D Holman.
Unused Subs: C Kitscha, A Downes, T Plavotic, K Wootton.