Fletcher and Ennis secure derby joy for Tangerines

By Jacob Smalley

BLACKPOOL 2

Fletcher 13, Ennis 59

BLACKPOOL: Tyrer 6, Offiah 7, Casey 8, Husband 7, Coulson 6 (Pennington 90), Apter 6 (Bloxham 72, 6), Evans 6, Morgan 7, Carey 6, Fletcher 6 (Hamilton 81), Ennis 7 (Silvera 81). Subs not used: O’Donnell, Lawrence-Gabriel, Beesley.

BOLTON W 1

Collins 35

BOLTON: Baxter 6, Forrester 6, Forino 7, Johnston 6, Dacres-Cogley 6 (Jones 82), Morley 6, Thomason 6 (Sheehan 63, 6), Osei-Tutu 6 (Gomes 63, 6), McAtee 6 (Etete 82), Collins 7, Schon 6 (Randall 73, 6). Subs not used: Southwood, Murphy.

Att: 11,602 Rating: ★★★★★ Ref: Graham Scott 7/10

BLACKPOOL boss Steve Bruce praised his match-winning strikers after Ashley Fletcher and Niall Ennis sunk local rivals Bolton.

They scored either side of Aaron Collins’ goal to earn the Tangerines three precious points to boost their play-off aspirations.

“They are both playing exceptionally well,” said Bruce of Fletcher and Ennis.

“They are in great form and they are winning us games at the moment.

“Ashley especially is playing really well. He’s got that bit of a swagger and looks really easy on the eye.

“Niall, he has been excellent from the second he came in through the door.”

Bruce added: “It was a really hard fought and really competitive game and we’ve done well to win it.

“They are a strong side and they were always going to have a lot of the ball, but we did well to limit them. It is great to send our supporters home happy after winning a local derby.”

The hosts managed to edge in front inside the first quarter of an hour.

Fletcher fired in a fourth goal in five matches from close range after Albie Morgan’s well hit volley was deflected into his path.

The visitors responded well and were brought level thanks to Collins’ deft header from an Aaron Morley cross.

They almost reversed the scoreline completely less than a minute later as Szabolcs Schon nipped in behind the home defence and lobbed Harry Tyrer, only to see his effort cleared off the line by Odeluga Offiah.

Within 15 minutes of the restart, Blackpool were ahead. Despite appeals of offside, Ennis sneaked his way into the box and chipped the ball over Nathan Baxter to steal a vitally important win. Frustration boiled over in the dying moments for Bolton as they saw Morley given a red card for a show of dissent.

Bolton manager Steven Schumacher was left disappointed after his side fell to a third straight defeat in the league.

He said: “The game is one that has gotten away from us. It seems we are finding ways to come out on the wrong side of results.

“I was pleased, though, with a lot of things that I saw. There was nothing really wrong with the performance.

“We’ve asked our lads to stand up in what is a derby game and they more than did that. We’ve just let in two poor goals and we haven’t been ruthless enough.”