AFC Blackpool 4-0 Cheadle Town

Cheadle's return to action was greeted by this heavy defeat at the hands of a resurgent AFC Blackpool.

We were seriously undone in a nine-minute period in the second-half where we conceded three identikit goals: through balls to their forward line that caught our back-four square leaving the striker with a one-on-one with O'Keefe. The only minor exception was their third goal on 67 minutes: Keefo seemed to be coming out for it but managed to be beaten by an outstretched limb that nutmegged the ball under his legs.

AFCB's three-goal salvo built upon a single goal lead that was gained virtually on the stroke of half-time. A cross from the right eventually found their unmarked no.7 at the far post who had time to drill home.

Up until that point Cheadle - despite failing to create any clear-cut chances - were holding their own and restricting AFCB to long-range or weak shots straight at Keefo's midriff. The best half-chance we had came just before Blackpool's goal where Arron Riley snatched at a snap-shot and screwed the ball wide.

We could have actually made it 1-1 on the 48th minute; James McDonagh having a header cleared from the line following a corner. Twenty minutes later and we'd be four goals worse off. Such is football.

Fair play to AFC Blackpool who were good value for their win today. We didn't quite do enough to get anything out of it and were missing that extra yard of pace today - something which I'll put down to our lack of competitive action. 

Yes, a heavy defeat but good to be back in the matchday routine. Hopefully the ring-rustiness will be out of the system by next week when we travel to Irlam for the quarter-final of the First Division Trophy!

TEAM: O'Keefe, Logan, B Roberts, Cotterill, Willans, Hussain, Riley (Myers), McCormack (Makin), J McDonagh (Alan), O'Brien, Lindon. Subs: Makin, Myers, Alan