TOWN all washed up

Roy Evans' men crashed to their second successive defeat after Danny Invincible wasted a glorious chance to snatch a point deep into injury time.

With Town trailing to a third minute goal, Blackpool skipper Stephen Caldwell generously upended Paul McAreavey and referee Roy Pearson pointed to the spot.

But somehow the gut feeling told you that this was not going to be Town's day and Blackpool keeper James Pullen threw himself to his left to keep out the Australian's rather mediocre kick.

Almost 800 Town fans streamed out of the ground to drown their sorrows in the pubs of the North West's 'Riviera' and reflect on a very poor showing by their heroes.

Admittedly, Roy Evans' pre-match plans were badly hit by injuries and suspensions but that was no excuse for the lacklustre start by the visitors.

It seemed several players' minds were at the nearby pleasure beach because they were clearly not focused on affairs at Bloomfield Road at three o'clock.

Blackpool tore through Town's defence as if it was candy floss and it was hard to fathom why the Seasiders were only one goal to the good at the interval.

With regular wing backs David Duke and Paul Edwards ruled out, Roy Evans switched Danny Invincible to left wing-back and brought in Adam Willis on the right.

Although the central defender worked hard in this unfamiliar role, he was clearly not comfortable and the Seasiders were given far too much space down the left flank.

Eric Sabin made his first start for two months alongside Giuliano Grazioli but it was the home side that did most of the early attacking.

Only 40 seconds had elapsed when Andy Gurney had to make a vital challenge to thwart striker Brett Ormerod but Town failed to heed the warning and paid the price.

With two minutes and 16 seconds on the clock, Blackpool's Danny Coid picked up the ball on the right and jinked his way into the penalty area.

Town's defenders backed off and with no-one prepared to put in a challenge, the youngster said thank you very much and drilled a shot into the bottom right hand corner of Bart Griemink's net.

The Seasiders were lifted by their early strike and their ability to break quickly threatened to bring Steve McMahon's side a second goal.

Ormerod should have done better with an eighth minute strike but could not put it wide of Griemink.

Town gradually steadied the ship and Wayne Carlisle came desperately close to levelling matters with a 12th minute free-kick.

The Northern Ireland man curled in a 20 yard shot from the left and keeper Pullen had to scramble to his right to turn the ball round the post for a corner.

Town enjoyed numerous corners during the match but Bobby Howe's delivery left a lot to be desired and most seemed to connect with a Blackpool head.

The visitors best chance of an equaliser came in the 18th minute when a Razor Ruddock free kick was flicked on by Sabin and Grazioli planted a header onto the roof of the net.

The Town fans at the far end of the ground thought the ball had looped in and erupted in joy until the jeers from the home fans brought the realisation that the striker's effort had been fractionally off-target.

Being off target increasingly became something of a Town speciality.

Sabin latched on to Grazioli's knock down but screwed a terrible effort high and wide.

The Frenchman cracked another effort goalwards on 27 minutes but it was blocked and rebounded to Howe.

It would be unkind to rub the Geordie's nose in it but the accuracy of his effort can be summed up by saying the ball flew out for a Blackpool throw-in.

Grazioli seemed certain to fire Town level on 32 minutes as he sprinted into the box after latching on to Carlisle's through ball but just as he was about to pull the trigger Caldwell slid in to put the ball out for a corner.

Goalscorer Coid breached the shaky Town defence again a minute later and arrowed a shot just wide of Griemink's left post.

Only Matt Hewlett seemed to be firing on all cylinders for Town as he gamely tried to keep the ball long enough to prevent the Seasiders piling forward.

Blackpool effectively utilised the flanks with veteran left winger Paul Simpson tormenting Willis, while Martin Bullock's pace gave Invincible a tough work out on the other wing.

Veteran striker Ian Marshall thrashed a shot just wide on 40 minutes and Matt Heywood stretched out a leg to prevent Ormerod converting a great chance just before the interval.

While Roy Evans clearly had some strong words to say at half time, the visitors could not turn the Tangerine tide in the early stage of the second half.

In the 51st minute Gurney through himself in front of Ormerod just as the striker seemed certain to make it 2-0 while Marshall blasted wide when well placed just moments later.

Town forced two corners in a brief spell of pressure in the 55th minute but both came to nothing and the Seasiders were soon on the attack again.

Griemink did tremendously well to tip away a scorching 57th minute effort from Richie Wellens and the Town keeper was in the right place again six minutes later to grasp a close range header from John O'Kane.

Midway through the half Evans replaced Grazioli with Paul McAreavey but still Town struggled to create openings.

Ormerod saw an effort ruled out for offside and Ruddock's powerful free kick was blocked by the Blackpool wall but as time began to tick away a Town equaliser looked about as likely as a crisis-free week at the County Ground.

Mark Robinson replaced Willis while the ineffective Sabin made way for Bertie Brayley.

The Frenchman was replaced just moments after missing a glorious chance to break his Town duck.

Matt Hewlett's 20-yard shot was deflected into his path but the former Wasquehal man lacked the necessary composure and he failed to find the target.

With the game entering stoppage time Invincible had two chances to secure a pretty undeserved point.

As Blackpool struggled to clear their lines, the Aussie pounced but his effort was brilliantly kept out by keeper Pullen.

That seemed to be that until Stephen Caldwell triggered late, late drama.

McAreavey was crudely chopped to the floor by the Seasiders defender and referee Pearson gave the visitors a last chance to redeem themselves for a pretty sorry showing.

Sadly for Town, the Blackpool keeper guessed correctly and turned away Danny Invincible's spot kick.

Town need to turn things around quickly if a long, hard winter is to be avoided.

The club's chief executive wore a wry smile as he muttered 'just about sums up my week'. Touche Mr Rowe.