, Report: Tangerines promoted to League One with play-off final win

Report: Tangerines promoted to League One with play-off final win

Blackpool have been promoted to Sky Bet League One after defeating Exeter City 2-1 at Wembley Stadium.

Brad Potts gave Blackpool an early lead as he latched onto Mark Cullen’s pull-back on three minutes, before David Wheeler’s sensational lob levelled the scores just before half-time.

Cullen restored the Tangerines’ lead with just under half-an-hour to go as his goal proved to be the winner at the National Stadium.

Gary Bowyer made two changes to his Blackpool squad for the promotion final, as Kyle Vassell and Colin Daniel returned to the starting eleven. Meanwhile, Nathan Delfouneso was a potential attacking option for the Tangerines.

Paul Tisdale also made changes to his Exeter side, three rotations in total, as Christy Pum replaced Bobby Olejnik in goal; while Lloyd James and Joel Grant swapped their place on the substitutes bench with Jordan Tillson and Lee Holmes.

The seaside town made an immediate start to proceedings at the National Stadium, waiting just three minutes before taking the lead in the promotion final. The Tangerines had created a few half-chances in the opening encounters but Cullen’s pull-back to Potts was eventually converted with the 23-year-old driving home from 20-yards.

Exeter had a chance of their own through English Football League Young Player of the Year Ollie Watkins, but the youngster could only watch as Sam Slocombe denied him.

The game was always going to be an exciting one with the potential for plenty of goals – with 12 goals being scored between them in their two play-off semi-finals – and there was almost an equaliser for City but Joel Grant saw his shot well blocked.

Bowyer was forced into a 31st-minute substitution when Tangerines captain Tom Aldred picked up an injury which was too severe to carry on, making way for Bright Osayi-Samuel. And the Blackpool boss had his heart in his mouth eight minutes later as Jack Payne also fell to the ground with an injury.

It proved to be an irritating period for Bowers as, after seeing his captain substituted off through injury and Payne go down with a slight injury, Exeter equalised with four minutes of the half remaining.

Wheeler impeccably took control of a long ball from his own half before lobbing Blackpool ‘keeper Slocombe with the outside of his boot.

But with just under half-an-hour left on the clock, Blackpool returned to their winning position through Cullen.

Potts had been the converter from Cullen’s assist, but it was a rotation in statistics as Cullen stretched in to convert Potts’ drilled cross.

Despite Blackpool taking the lead, Exeter immediately went on the front foot. Lloyd James had a shot blocked and after numerous attempts to get the ball to Watkins, it eventually came to nothing as the youngster was ruled offside.

The Tangerines looked to further their lead over Exeter, but Neil Danns smashed over the bar from Osayi-Samuel’s cut-back with seventeen minutes remaining.

Bowyer’s side held on though and the full-time whistle meant they were promoted back to the Sky Bet League One at the first time of asking.

Blackpool: Slocombe, Mellor, Aimson, Aldred (31 Osayi-Samuel), Robertson, Daniel, Payne (61 Black), Danns, Potts, Cullen (75 Flores), Vassell. Unused Subs: Lyness, Nolan, Delfouneso, Gnanduillet.

Exeter City: Pym, Woodman (71 Holmes), James, Harley, Wheeler, Grant (57 Reid), Watkins, Moore-Taylor, Taylor, Stacey, Brown (58 Sweeney). Unused Subs: Olejnik, Tillson, McAlinden, Croll.

Goalscorers: Blackpool: Brad Potts (3′), Mark Cullen (64′). Exeter: David Wheeler (40′)

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