ALAN YOUNG secured Second Division survival and a free takeaway from mum and dad after thumping home his first league goal for Town.

The 18-year-old's 46th minute strike was enough to give Andy King's men the three points they needed to be mathematically safe.

Rather than heading out for a night on the town, the youngster headed home for a spot of tea and a video with his parents.

Such modesty and level-headedness bodes well for the future.

It was a goal to be savoured on so many levels.

As well as pushing Town up to 54 points, the home fans could hail the local boy while sending Steve McMahon back to Blackpool with his tail between his legs.

McMahon was the Town manager when Young first started attending the club's centre of excellence but the pupil turned on his master in the most satisfying way on Saturday.

It ended 1-0 but it could so easily have been five or six.

Although the Seasiders struck the woodwork twice, they were totally outplayed for long periods of the game.

If ever there was an example of a side dominating without taking their chances, then this was it.

If King is able to unearth a finisher, then he will thrive next year on the glut of chances created.

Blackpool may have been fresh from an LDV triumph but they looked distinctly stale against a fresh-looking Town side.

The Blackpool boss received the expected hostile reception and his team did little to improve the crowd's mood with some nasty, niggling fouls.

How they ended the match with 11 players on the field is anyone's guess.

With injuries beginning to bite, King was limited in his selection choices.

The only change from the side that drew 1-1 with Wigan a fortnight ago was the inclusion of David Duke for the injured Sol Davis.

Although Town would largely dominate, they started sloppily and almost fell behind on eight minutes.

The lively Martin Bullock crossed from the right and Scott Taylor planted a header against Bart Griemink's crossbar. Fortunately, the Dutch keeper reacted quickly to smother the ball.

The scare seemed to snap Town out of their lethargy and King's men started to probe the visiting defence.

Eric Sabin raced through only to be beaten to the ball by Blackpool keeper Phil Barnes and Bobby Howe then tested the keeper with a low drive in the 11th minute.

Danny Invincible wasted a glorious opportunity moments later when he met Howe's perfectly flighted corner, only to loop his header over the bar from close range.

But this was an afternoon for Invincible to shine. A warm, sunny afternoon saw the Australian in his element.

Time after time he picked up the ball and ran at defenders, causing panic at the back.

Steve Robinson's search for a goal continued and his 14th minute volley from the edge of the box drifted harmlessly wide. He was also off target with an effort eight minutes later.

Young carved out an opening for himself on 17 minutes but his curling shot from 18 yards was comfortably dealt with by Barnes.

Sabin then tested the keeper after being put through by Matt Hewlett but Barnes saved his best for Town skipper Andy Gurney.

The former Reading man hammered a tremendous 26th minute free kick towards the bottom corner of the net from 25 yards but Barnes flew to his left and tipped the ball around the post.

Blackpool's new acquisition, Darren Dunning was booked for a nasty challenge on Hewlett just past the half hour but keeper Barnes was lucky to escape with a yellow card when he brought down the onrushing Invincible five minutes before the interval.

Referee Trevor Parkes did not enjoy the best of afternoons and some of his decisions were extremely baffling.

For all their pressure, the half time score sheet was blank and the feeling grew that this might not be Town's day.

But just 58 seconds into the second half, Town's attacking endeavours were at last rewarded.

Invincible picked the ball up just inside the Blackpool half, sprinted down the right, skipped past Ian Hughes before cutting the ball into the path of Young.

The 18-year-old slammed the ball into the bottom corner of the net and raced away to soak up the acclaim of the Nationwide Stand.

The ever-impressive Matt Heywood and Adam Willis coped well with the aerial threat of Blackpool striker John Murphy. But Heywood should have done better at the other end, getting his head to Howe's inswinging free-kick but put the ball into the Stratton Bank.

McMahon introduced striker Richard Walker on 55 minutes and the former Villa man almost netted with his first touch. Thankfully for Town, Griemink spread himself well to block the effort.

Heywood then stuck out a leg to block a shot from Richie Wellens but Invincible spurned a great opportunity to make the game safe just before the hour.

After sprinting past two players, the Australian failed to spot Robinson in acres of space on the right and subsequently lost possession.

Howe then jinked past Gary Parkinson to set up Robinson, but the Town midfielder was off target yet again.

But still Blackpool could not be killed off and the visitors went desperately close to levelling matters with a little over 20 minutes to go.

Griemink made another fine stop to deny Tommy Jaszczun but the keeper was stranded moments later as Murphy's header bounced off the top of the crossbar.

Barnes then had to move smartly to head clear from Sabin on an afternoon where both keepers seemed to find enormous distance with their kicks.

Heywood was off target again with a 75th minute header as chances continued to go begging.

McMahon's last throw of the dice was to introduce former Blackburn striker Graham Fenton with 12 minutes remaining.

The gamble very nearly paid off with four minutes remaining.

A low cross from the right fell awkwardly between Heywood and Griemink and the Blackpool striker was a whisker away from pouncing on a moment's hesitation.

Thankfully, the ball was grasped by Griemink as a Blackpool equaliser would have been the cruellest of injustices.

Gurney had the final word, curling an 87th minute shot just wide of Barnes' right post but the final whistle ended a pretty satisfactory afternoon for King's men.

But the manager will be determined to make sure the season does not stop here.

Fans and players alike should remember the consequences of not being switched on at Stoke.