Niall Ennis scored twice as Blackpool secured a resilient 3-1 home victory over Crawley Town, despite playing over an hour with only 10 men following Ashley Fletcher’s first-half red card.
Blackpool began brightly and should have been ahead early when Albie Morgan’s pressing won the ball high up the field, feeding Sonny Carey, who could only find the side-netting. However, Crawley’s relief was short-lived as Ennis headed home a precise cross from CJ Hamilton after just 10 minutes.
The hosts nearly doubled their lead moments later, with Hamilton again influential, but Morgan’s shot was superbly saved at full stretch by Crawley goalkeeper Joe Wollacott. The Seasiders didn’t have to wait long, though, as Ennis grabbed his second goal after 18 minutes, poking in from close range after Morgan’s low shot caused confusion for Wollacott.
Red Card Threatens Blackpool’s Control
Momentum shifted dramatically on the half-hour mark when Crawley pulled a goal back. Max Anderson’s clever pass found Kamari Doyle, who finished calmly from close range. Just two minutes later, Blackpool’s task became significantly harder as Fletcher saw red for violent conduct following a rash challenge on Charlie Barker.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Blackpool regrouped admirably in the second half. Ennis had a golden chance to seal his hat-trick, muscling past the Crawley defence, but fired agonisingly wide when faced one-on-one with Wollacott.
The match was settled in the 79th minute when Blackpool were awarded a penalty after Doyle fouled Jordan Gabriel in the box. Lee Evans stepped up confidently, dispatching the spot-kick to secure the three points for the Seasiders.
The result offers relief and optimism for Blackpool, who showed impressive character to overcome adversity. For Crawley, it was an opportunity missed against depleted opponents, leaving them to reflect on what might have been.
Writer’s View
This was a crucial victory for Blackpool, demonstrating their mental strength and tactical discipline under challenging circumstances. Ennis’ influence was undeniable, and while Fletcher’s red card could have unravelled their performance, it instead galvanised them. This win could be a turning point, ending their bizarre run of home draws, and injecting confidence into a side capable of pushing higher up the League One table.
