Blackpool | News | Latest News | Latest News | REPORT: FK JELGAVA 2 POOL 1

REPORT: FK JELGAVA 2 POOL 1

Posted on: Fri 03 Sep 2010

Blackpool were beaten 2-1 by Latvian outfit FK Jelgava as they marked the opening of the Zemgale Olympic Center.

Ian Holloway opted for an experimental line-up; Ashley Eastham and Jason Euell were handed starts while new signing Matt Phillips and the returning DJ Campbell were also included in the starting 11.

But the Tangerines made the worst possible opening when Mark Halstead scuffed a simple five-yard pass to Rob Edwards, allowing Latvian Vladislavs Koslovs to walk through and pass the ball into an empty net.

Blackpool nearly responded on 20 minutes when the quick-silver DJ Campbell was set free after a hopeful long punt, but the striker was thwarted by the Jelgava defence as he pulled the trigger.

Campbell was in the thick of the action two minutes later, bursting through the static Jelgava defence and rounding the keeper, only for the defender to intervene on the line.

Things got even worse for the Seasiders when they fell 2-0 down as Olegs Malasinoks delicately lifted the ball over the advancing Halstead after 32 minutes.

And Blackpool's misery was compounded shortly before half-time when Rob Edwards was replaced by Stephen Crainey after suffering a knock.

Holloway made four changes at the break as he looked to find a way back into the match, as Ishmel Demontagnac, Luke Varney, Stephen Husband and Brett Ormerod replaced Ludovic Sylvestre, Elliot Grandin, Matthew Phillips and Danny Coid.

The changes nearly made an instant impact when Luke Varney darted down the right flank before firing a fizzing cross into the six-yard box but Ishmel could only shoot weakly at Mackos Bogdanovs.

But it was Ormerod who pulled a goal back on 67 minutes, Campbell raced onto the end of Stephen Crainey's through ball and lofted the ball delightfully over the goalkeeper for Ormerod to head ball over the goal-line.

Eight minutes later Ishmel nearly levelled but the wide-man could only fire wide of the left-hand post from 10 yards out.

Blackpool pressed for a winner but couldn't find a crucial second goal. Holloway will be pleased with the work-out for his new recruits though.