CENTRAL LEAGUE CUP: Blackpool

United finally got the second of their Central League Cup fixtures played on Tuesday afternoon following a number of postponements and false starts.

The Blues took the points from their first group fixture with a late goal from Sam Fishburn enough to secure the victory over Fleetwood.

And Blackpool had already registered wins over fellow group members Accrington and Fleetwood to put them in the driving seat heading into this encounter.

The nine first-team squad members were joined by Alex Potts and Ryan Carr, and it was Carr who created the first half chance as he battled for the ball out wide. His cross was nodded as far as Harris, but his 22-yard volley was charged down.

Blackpool looked dangerous when Francis used strength to get into the box after he'd muscled past two meaty tackles. He sent it across the face of goal but Idehen was on his toes and he helped it on his way.

More away pressure followed as Francis ghosted through a challenge before popping it with his instep to the unmarked Holmes. He put his boot through it but Idehen stood tall. It was recycled by Hughes and a low cutback had to be dealt with before Francis could pounce.

The Tangerines looked bright and they picked a way through as Trusty nudged the ball to Moffat, who had found a pocket of space. He spotted Lescott, and the pass invited the shot as the angle became acute. Kelly was beaten but it could only find the outside of the net.

Carlisle got forward in numbers from the goal kick and Senior was an outlet as he sprinted down the right flank. Cunningham had to punch as the bullet of a dipping ball threatened to find the roof of the net.

Kelly had work to do just before the half hour when Moffat spun away from Carr on the edge of the area. The forward took a touch but Barclay once again took the sting out of it and the big stopper was able to drop and calm things down.

United thought they'd opened the scoring when Devitt floated a lovely inswinging free kick into the mix. Sho-Silva met it on the jump but his downward header was clawed off the line by the diving Archie Cunningham.

A heavy tackle on Barclay saw him leave the pitch with 34 minutes played, with Dan Hill on as his replacement. 

The lively Moffat chanced his arm with an attempted lob at the other end when he was put clean through by a hopeful ball over the top, but it lacked power and Kelly readjusted to pull it out of the sky.

Blackpool took the lead on 39 minutes when Hughes overlapped with the ball at his feet. A perfect delivery was snaffled up by Brad Holmes, who had started the move, with a shot on the slide that left Kelly with no chance.

Carlisle almost levelled on the break after Kelly had sprinted out of his area to challenge Holmes after he'd ridden a tackle to go clean through. It was worked to Stretton, but a ripping drive was deflected wide. The ball was kept alive from the corner but Sho-Silva looped a header from distance over the bar.

The Cumbrians looked up for it at the start of the second period and Harris dropped a shoulder to make room for a pass. Devitt put his laces through it from 19-yards but Cunningham got both hands behind it.

But an incisive pass from Moore in the middle of the park carved a path for Moffat to exploit, and he suddenly found himself with just the stopper to beat. He didn't disappoint with a neat finish into the bottom corner.

Blackpool kept things tight and Stretton was disappointed when he miscued a half chance after the ball had been worked his way. A low punt had Cunningham worried but he got down to stop it in its tracks.

Determination from Ryan Carr put him on the end of a good United move and his delivery deserved more as he whisked it into the area. It skipped up, begging to be put away, but Squires showed first to bring the moment to a close.

A brave block from Potts prevented Moffat from bagging a third, and Kelly was confortable as he watched the volley from the resulting corner from Holmes sail high over the target.

Visiting tails were up and Byron checked back as he got into the area, with two defenders on his back. Moffat aske for it, and a chip frpm 16-yards dropped late. The Blues were relieved to see it hit the bar and Nugent was able to scramble it away.

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Goals

Blackpool - Holmes (39), Moffat (50)

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Bookings

Blackpool - Trusty (28)

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Teams

Carlisle United - Kelly, Potts, Senior (Bollado 46), Barclay (c) (Hill 34), Idehen, Carr (Nugent 69), Hilton, Harris, Devitt, Stretton, Sho-Silva. Subs - Breeze (gk), Hardy.

Blackpool - Cunningham, Moore, Hughes, Squires, Lankshear, Trusty (c), Nyame (Bjork 90), Moffat, Francis (Strawn 75), Lescott (Byron 83), Holmes. Subs - Spinelli (gk), Emmerson.

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Match officials

Referee - Chris Joyce 
Assistant - Stephen Beresford 
Assistant - Mark McMahon 

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