Lincoln City progressed to the third round of the League Cup with ease after a crazy three minutes at the seaside.
An even first half saw the teams level, but straight after the restart, a red card and a double salvo killed the game as a contest. It meant a chance to get one of the big boys at the Bank for the second season in a row, and a fourth appearance in the third round in four years.
The Imps made eleven changes to the side that lost 3-1 against Portsmouth, with first starts for Andrei Coubis, Josh Honohan, Yunus Konak, Mason Melia and Tanto Olaofe. Adam Jackson returned to the heart of the defence, and new loan signing Ethan Wheatley made the bench.
City made a decent start and won a free kick after five minutes, with Tom Bayliss playing Mason Melia down the side. Melia looked to deliver into the middle, but Hayden Coulson got across to deflect the cross safely back to Bailey Peacock-Farrell.
There was a brief stoppage five minutes later when Callum Elder went down, seemingly after losing a contact lens, but the game had offered little in the way of goalmouth action before City fashioned the first real chance after 19 minutes. Josh Honohan made progress down the right channel and Tanto Olaofe was able to twist and turn inside the area, although Oliver Casey stood his ground to block the eventual shot.
Blackpool responded immediately as Josh Bowler drove forward at the other end, but he went to ground under a soft touch and the referee was unmoved. The home side then created their clearest opening of the game after 24 minutes when Coulson released Tom Bloxham, only for Joe Gauci to react quickly and get down early to save at the striker’s feet. Blackpool were beginning to grow into the contest, and Leighton Clarkson was next to try his luck, although his effort from range sailed comfortably over the bar.
Another Blackpool break caused problems on the half-hour mark, with Bowler carrying the ball forward before CJ Hamilton found himself in a shooting position, but City were able to clear before the effort could trouble Gauci. Hamilton threatened again moments later and looked ready to pull the trigger, only for Adam Jackson to produce an excellent sliding challenge and take the ball cleanly away.
City then had an opportunity to counter, and Zac Ashworth was booked for dragging Olaofe back by the shirt. The resulting free kick caused problems, with Rob Street heading the ball back across goal for Melia, but the striker could not generate enough power on his header to seriously trouble Peacock-Farrell.
The game had suddenly become much more open. Blackpool broke again, and Coulson fired well over from distance, before Hamilton attacked once more and drove an effort into the side netting. Coulson was then fortunate to escape without a booking following a late challenge on Honohan, with only a free kick awarded, before Melia did go into the book shortly afterwards for a foul on Bowler.
Clarkson delivered the resulting set piece, which City initially cleared, before Finley Munroe’s follow-up effort disappeared high into the stand. However, it was City who took the lead after 36 minutes, and the goal arrived as a complete gift. Coulson attempted to play the ball back towards Peacock-Farrell but sent it straight to Olaofe, who accepted the invitation and calmly slipped his finish through the goalkeeper’s legs to put the Imps ahead.
It should have been 2-0 three minutes later. A neat move involving Elder and Bayliss released Melia into a promising position, but his final effort was well wide when he should have done better. Bowler then looked to drag Blackpool level, although his shot from an angle lacked power and Gauci gathered comfortably.
City continued to threaten and Street was released in behind after 42 minutes. He appeared offside but the flag stayed down, allowing him to shoot and force a save from Peacock-Farrell, only for the officials inexplicably to award Blackpool a goal kick despite the obvious touch from the goalkeeper. Street was involved again almost immediately when City broke down the left and Elder crossed into the area, but the striker got underneath his header and sent it over.
Blackpool found their equaliser on 44 minutes after Bayliss tripped Andy Lyons on the edge of the area, conceding a needless free kick in a dangerous position. Clarkson stepped up and made the punishment count, finding the net from the set piece to make it 1-1.
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