Matt Scrafton's top five Blackpool FC matches

Luton Town 3 Blackpool 3

May 18, 2017

Leading 3-2 from an equally barmy League Two play-off semi-final first leg thanks to Mark Cullen’s hat-trick against his former club, the Seasiders secured their place at Wembley in this highly dramatic rematch.

Gary Bowyer’s men appeared to be cruising into the final when Nathan Delfouneso made it 1-0 and 4-2 on aggregate early on.

But the Hatters responded with three goals in just 21 minutes to take the overall lead, one of those strikes coming via a highly controversial penalty, ‘won’ and converted by Danny Hylton.

Thankfully it wasn’t to matter as Armand Gnanduillet came off the bench to level matters with a thumping header before Pool won it right at the death via an injury-time own goal from goalkeeper Stuart Moore.

Blackpool 2 Exeter City 1

May 28, 2017

After back-to-back relegations, the Seasiders secured their return to League One at the first attempt with this narrow victory in the play-off final.

Brad Potts calmed Blackpool’s nerves early on, taking just three minutes to give Gary Bowyer’s side the lead.

He picked out the bottom corner from just outside the penalty area after being set up smartly by Mark Cullen.

Exeter hauled themselves level five minutes before the interval, when David Wheeler lobbed Sam Slocombe, but Pool weren’t to be denied.

Cullen was the hero once again, prodding home from Potts’ cross to restore Pool’s lead.

Of the 23,000 crowd, just 5,000 of them were Blackpool supporters in what was the biggest test of the fans’ boycott to date.

Blackpool 3 Bradford City 2 September 8, 2018

The Seasiders, now managed by Gary Bowyer’s former assistant Terry McPhillips, maintained their strong start to the 2018/19 campaign with a dramatic comeback win.

Three goals in the final six minutes sank the struggling Bantams, who would appoint Bowyer as boss five months later.

Despite dominating, Pool somehow found themselves two goals down midway through the second half as Eoin Doyle and Jack Payne scored within five minutes of one another.

Doyle’s goal came from the penalty spot after Curtis Tilt had fouled former Seasider Kelvin Mellor.

Blackpool’s comeback began on 84 minutes, Jay Spearing converting a penalty for his first goal for the club.

With the wind now in Pool’s sails, Tilt decided to take matters into his own hands, throwing himself up front for the dying stages.

The move paid off, the defender being tripped for a second penalty, which Spearing converted, before winning the game in the final minute from close range.

Blackpool 2

Southend United 2

March 9, 2019

This one takes no explaining. With the Oystons ousted and court-appointed receivers now in charge of the club, thousands of Seasiders ended their boycott and flocked back to Bloomfield Road.

They came in their droves too, almost 16,000 witnessing Pool snatch a 96th-minute equaliser from Taylor Moore’s bizarre own goal.

Armand Gnanduillet had earlier levelled after Rob Kiernan had spoiled the party with the opening goal for Southend, then Michael Turner restored the away side’s lead.

But the events on the pitch were secondary to what was happening off it, with supporters marching down the Promenade prior to kick-off to mark the end of the despised former owners.

The match ended with jubilant scenes too, as dozens of fans made their way onto the pitch to celebrate the dramatic late equaliser in what was a release of joy and relief more than delight at snatching a point.

Blackpool 2 Fleetwood TOWN 1 April 22, 2019

While the ‘homecoming’ game against Southend claimed all the headlines, Pool fans had to wait until Easter Monday to witness their first victory at Bloomfield Road since returning from their boycott.

But what a way to do it.

With almost 12,000 in attendance, Jay Spearing gave the Seasiders a first-half lead from the penalty spot against their Fylde coast neighbours after Nya Kirby had been tripped by James Husband.

The lead lasted just six minutes, dangerman Ched Evans heading past Christoffer Mafoumbi to cancel out Spearing’s strike from 12 yards.

The game sparked to life in the 72nd minute, when Fleetwood’s Nathan Sheron was shown a straight red for a horror tackle on Matty Virtue.

Even with a one-man advantage, Pool struggled to break down their opponents until club stalwart Nathan Delfouneso won it forthe hosts at the death.

He rifled home from close range with virtually the last kick of the game, sparking wild scenes in the home ends as Pool fans invaded the pitch once again.