Watford choke on Blackpool rock

Watford let the lead slip through their fingers yesterday as Blackpool stole all three points with a stunning last five double-salvo after Tom Cleverley had given the ‘Orns the lead with just 11 minutes to go.

Their were two changes for the ‘Orns who brought Ross Jenkins in from the bench for his first start in tweleve matches following a back injury, whilst Danny ‘Golden’ Graham was on the bench at the expense of the returning Heidar Helguson.

Ian Holloway’s side took the lead in the 17th minute as a high-cross was hung up to the back post where inspirational skipper Charlie Adam was on hand to nod, (or was that handle?) the ball past Scott Loach at the near post.

Ten minutes later though, and hugely indebted to the agility and reactions of the oustanding Scott Loach, Watford were level. Ross Jenkins made a nuisance of himself by the corner flag and fed the loose ball to Heidar Helguson who rolled back the years to weave past a string of defenders and pick out Henri Lansbury in the smallest of gaps on the edge of the 6-yard box to sweep the Golden Boys level.

With just eleven minutes to go, Watford took the lead as Tom Cleverley played a neat 1-2 with fellow loanee Henri Lansbury who took the pass on to powerfully shoot past home ‘keeper Paul Rachubka.

However with the Hornet’s in the lead for the first time on the day they managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory as Blackpool grabbed two sloppy late goals.

The first came following a corner which was nodded away well but the follow-up shot was allowed to break to Keith Southern at the second attempt after the initial effort was not closed down at all. The Blackpool midfielder had no trouble finishing from close range after an initial block.

And, with the clock ticking into injury time Blackpool re-took the lead and the all the spoils that went with it as Brett Ormerod was left unmarked to slot home after the cross provider was afforded oceans of space to pick a perfect slide-rule cross.

Full-Time: 3-2

Blackpool:Rachubka; Baptiste, Eardley, Crainey, Evatt (Nardiello ,88); Southern, Adam (c), Bannan(Demontagnac ,75 ), Vaughan; Taylor-Fletcher (Burgess ,74) and Ormerod.

Watford:Loach; Doyley, Demerit (c), Mariappa, Hodson (Bennett ,70 ), Eustace, Lansbury (Graham ,80 ), Cleverley, Cowie (Harley ,52 ), Jenkins; and Helguson.