Arcades, Sticks of Rock, and Missed Chances: Blackpool vs. Leyton Orient
- Kevin Dunkerley
- Mar 16, 2025
- 4 min read
For Tier 3 of my Ten-Tier Tour, I made my way to the west coast for a trip to Bloomfield Road, historic home of Blackpool FC. Arriving four hours before kick-off gave me plenty of time to embrace the classic seaside experience. I walked along the prom, lost a handful of coins to the 2p machines in the pier arcade, admired the famous tower (sadly closed for the day), bought some sticks of rock, including Jaeger Bomb flavour and indulged in a pre-match pizza.
Bloomfield Road was alive with atmosphere at the start, with the home crowd in fine voice. The game itself, however, didn’t quite match the excitement of the build-up and on the pitch, things were quiet for a while. Blackpool had an early chance when Rob Apter sent in a perfectly poised cross that just skimmed past Olly Casey's head inside the area—an opportunity gone begging.
Minutes later, Leyton Orient nearly took the lead when Jack Simpson latched onto a cross at the far post, only to head it straight into the palms of Blackpool keeper Harry Tyrer. But the visitors wouldn’t waste their next opportunity. A well-weighted delivery found Charlie Kelman in the box, and he made no mistake, tucking the ball into the far corner to give Orient a 1-0 lead.
The Seasiders struggled to create many chances of their own, and their best opportunity came after 37 minutes. Ashley Fletcher latched onto a long ball forward, rounded Orient keeper Josh Keeley, but somehow fired over the empty net. It was possibly the worst miss I have ever seen—an incredibly frustrating moment for Blackpool fans, and one that would be talked about for a long time. Keeley was called into action again just before the break, making a brilliant save to deny Apter from close range. The rebound fell to Sonny Carey, but he fired it wide.
At halftime, I stuck to my now-familiar choice of a John Smith’s, while my wife opted for a Cruzcampo that she wasn’t particularly impressed with. The general mood among the Blackpool fans was one of mounting frustration, both with their team and the officiating. One highlight, though, was the Blackpool chant celebrating their status as the “only team in football in tangerine and white.” A bold claim, though I couldn’t resist pointing out that Hougang United of Singapore might beg to differ.
The second half saw Blackpool come flying out of the blocks. They were agonisingly close to scoring twice in quick succession—first when Lee Evans sent in a low cross that flashed across the face of goal, and then when Ennis had a header clawed away from point-blank range by the impressive Keeley.
After a series of missed chances, Blackpool head coach Steve Bruce must have been wondering how his side hadn’t levelled the score yet. But just as it looked like they were about to find an equaliser, Kelman nearly made it 2-0 when he found space inside the box and rattled the bar. Bruce made changes, bringing on Tom Bloxham and, based on the chants that greeted him, the popular CJ Hamilton to freshen things up. The move paid off when Bloxham slipped the ball to an in-form Carey, who lashed it into the net to draw Blackpool level.
With the momentum now on their side, it felt like a turning point and I expected Blackpool to take control of the game and go on to win it. I've never been any good at predictions. Leyton Orient responded immediately, with Kelman again finding the back of the net to restore their advantage.
The game lost some of its intensity after that, with many Orient players seemingly suffering from cramp, forcing the game to stop every few minutes for recovery. This led to many Blackpool fans accusing Orient of being soft southerners, and I found myself wanting to keep my mouth shut, lest my southern accent gave me away as the football voyeur I am. Blackpool continued to press, but they couldn't find a way through. Ennis had another chance, getting the right side of his man before rattling the post from inside the area. Shortly after, Olly Casey’s header was tipped around the post by the ever-impressive Keeley.
Despite their relentless pressure, it just wasn’t Blackpool’s day, and fans were left to reflect on what could have been. With fewer than 10,000 fans in attendance, the crowd was noticeably smaller than the 14,000 that had turned up for my Tier 4 match at Bradford City and the atmosphere a little flatter. Perhaps this can be explained by the fact that both Blackpool and Oreient sit mid-table in league 2.
While the result was disappointing, the trip itself was a reminder of the charm of football and its rituals. The seaside atmosphere, the arcade fun, and the shared experience with fellow fans all combined to make the day memorable, even if the football didn’t quite live up to expectations.
Next stop: the Championship, as high flying Burnley take on Bristol City. Here’s hoping for a warmer welcome, better football, and a happier scoreline!
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