Blackpool 2 - 1 Leyton Orient
Joma South West Challenge Cup Semi-Final
ORIENT bowed out of the Joma South West Challenge Cup to Ian Evatt's last minute goal for Blackpool on Saturday afternoon.
The Barclays Premier League team were made to work for their victory by the O's, who looked set to take the game to penalties until Evatt's late intervention.
Francis Jeffers struck a first half goal for the Tangerines before Scott McGleish equalised, but a moment of magic from Charlie Adam right at the death made the difference as his excellent free kick struck the crossbar, and with Jamie Jones helpless on the ground, Evatt nodded home.
The game started at a low tempo, although Orient had a chance to open the scoring on 15 minutes when Blackpool keeper Mark Halsted was penalised for picking up Rob Edwards' back pass.
Alex Revell grabbed the ball and took the free kick quickly, but Halsted was alert enough to stop Stephen Dawson's goalbound effort.
Eight minutes later Blackpool had the lead out of the blue as Francis Jeffers found himself in space inside the O's box to control and take his time before slotting past Jamie Jones.
Orient looked to hit back instantly and Halsted did well to snuff out the danger when McGleish looked to latch onto Alex Revell's knock down on 25.
Two minutes later Matthew Spring warmed Halsted's palms with a stinging 25 yard drive after Revell and McGleish combined to lay on the chance.
Orient were holding their own against their top flight opponents and they found a deserved equaliser a minute before the break.
McGleish was the man on the spot to notch his fourth goal of pre-season, rising to nod home Dean Cox's wickedly inswinging left wing cross from close in.
Blackpool's Gary Taylor-Fletcher wasted a one-on-one opening three minutes after the interval as Blackpool looked to regain the initiative.
At the other end Revell nodded Kenny Gillet's cross wide as he stretched backwards to meet the ball.
Keith Southern then clipped an 18-yard effort over the crossbar, but the game began to drift with neither team looking particularly likely to make the breakthrough.
Ishmel Demontagnac looked to change that when he met Jason Euell's low cross 11 minutes from time, but Ben Tozer was on hand to clear off the line.
Blackpool were upping the pressure and they gained their reward right at the death when Evatt nodded home after Jones tipped Charlie Adam's superb 30-yard free kick onto the crossbar.
Orient: Jones; Omozusi (Cestor 46), Forbes, Tozer, Gillet; Dawson; Chambers (Smith 20), Spring, Cox; Revell (Téhoué 60), McGleish (Patulea 70)
Subs: Butcher (GK), Jarvis, Beautyman
Goal: McGleish 44
