Ipswich Town 4-3 Blackburn Rovers (23 September 2023) This seven-goal thriller sprung into action just four minutes in, as Ipswich right-back Harry Clarke arrowed a thunderbolt beyond Blackburn goalkeeper Aynsley Pears and into the top corner.
Just five minutes later though, Rovers were back on level terms, as Lewis Travis slipped a delicate ball through to Arnor Sigurdsson, who finished coolly past Vaclav Hladky.
Not even ten minutes had gone by though before Ipswich were back in front, after a failed clearance from Pears was collected by Conor Chaplin, who found Nathan Broadhead – and the Welshman smashed home from long range.
EFL: Blackburn lose in defeat to Ipswich.
The Tractor Boys then made it a quickfire double seven minutes later when Cameron Burgess’ wrapped pass around the Blackburn defence fell to George Hirst, and the striker easily poked the ball into Pears’ net.
The next significant action in the game came again from Clarke, although this time he was converting into his own net – Callum Brittain whipped in a cross intended for Harry Leonard but it was Clarke who got the telling touch – one that Hladky couldn’t keep out.
Inspired by the prospect of an incredible comeback, The Blue and Whites attacked again and after receiving a ball through from Leonard, Sammie Szmodics swiftly turned and sent a beauty past Hladky to even the game.
It was Town though, that had the final say, as Pears could only punch Marcus Harness’ dinked cross to Massimo Luongo, who sent a scorching effort into the top corner to give his side the three points.
Bolton Wanderers 7-0 Exeter City (25 November 2023) It took 34 minutes for Ian Evatt’s Bolton to break down opponents Exeter but once they did, the floodgates opened.
The deadlock was broken after a lovely Wanderers move which saw Dion Charles’ chipped cross headed home at the back post by Jack Iredale.
Less than 10 minutes later, The Trotters doubled their lead with another well-worked move – this time from a corner, as Josh Sheehan’s flashed ball across Exeter’s six-yard box was turned in by Victor Adeboyejo.
After entering half-time two goals to the good, Wanderers were determined to do more damage and poor Grecian defending allowed George Thomason to unselfishly feed Paris Maghoma, who finished emphatically past the young Viljami Sinisalo.
City then failed to clear again, as a low ball across the area was tapped in by Charles to make it 4-0.
Charles was on hand again to make it five – Sinisalo initially pulled off a smart save to deny Iredale a brace but it wasn’t enough, with Charles lurking – and scoring – from close range again.
Substitutions Kyle Dempsey and Daniel Nlundulu then combined for the final two goals of the match – the first was a Nlundulu flick-on from a corner and Dempsey’s glancing header helped the ball over the line.
Then, in the 92nd minute, Nlundulu got in on the act as Dempsey fired a ball across the box and the former stabbed in to make it a mammoth 7-0 scoreline.
Fleetwood Town 3-3 Blackpool (1 November 2023) This all-North West affair started promisingly for Fleetwood and looked by the 17-minute mark looked for all the world like they would take the three points.
13 minutes in, Shaun Rooney found Promise Omochere in an advanced position and the winger sent a rocket into Daniel Grimshaw’s net to take the lead.
Four minutes after that, Jack Marriott pounced on a Grimshaw mistake following a set-piece from the Fishermen to double their advantage.
Just three minutes into the second half though, Blackpool’s Sonny Carey decided to take matters into his own hands with a rapid brace. Finding himself in space on the edge of the Fleetwood box, the midfielder took aim and curled a cultured finish into Jay Lynch’s bottom corner.
With 51 minutes on the clock, Carey picked up the ball in a similar position and went for goal from distance again, releasing a blistering strike into the same corner.
Blackpool then completed the turnaround 15 minutes later, as Jordan Rhodes slipped through his strike partner Shane Lavery, who finished confidently when faced up by Lynch.
With the points destined to be taken to the seaside by the Tangerines, Neil Critchley’s men had their hearts broken in the last minute of regulation time, as Marriott’s dipping effort beat Grimshaw, grabbing himself a brace and his side a valuable point.
Are Blackpool getting into the play offs?
Yes
No
Yes and promoted????
Stockport County 5-0 Wrexham (23 September 2023) Wrexham’s Hollywood presence that has taken English football by storm couldn’t hold back a rampant Stockport County at Edgeley Park in this one.
A long ball forward from goalkeeper Ben Hinchcliffe rendered pinpoint for the run of Will Collar, who calmly picked out Isaac Olaofe in the Wrexham box and he came crashing in to convert past Mark Howard.
Olaofe was in the mood and nine minutes later nicked in before Ben Tozer to capitalise on a poor pass backwards and slotted past Howard again to give the Hatters a two-goal cushion.
EFL: Stockport dominate Wrexham at home.
Young loanee Louie Barry then latched on to a misplaced header and embarked on a dazzling solo run through the heart of the Red Dragons defence before punching a fierce strike past a helpless Howard to make it 3-0 with nearly an hour still to play.
The unforgiving Olaofe then sealed his hat-trick after being left alone at the Wrexham back post to head home from a deflected cross.
Substitute Patrick Madden then capped off a perfect display from Dave Challinor’s men, as he brought down a floated cross from Barry and knocked the ball past a sorry Howard.
Tranmere Rovers 3-4 Salford City (19 August 2023) Another all-North West match-up that was action-packed from start to finish.
Tranmere’s Lee O’Connor delivered a delicious cross from the right and found the head of Connor Jennings to put Nigel Adkins’ men in front.
Salford then responded through a delightful Mathieu Smith finish following a Luke Bolton cut-back.
The Ammies’ were behind again though, just two minutes later, when Luke Norris flicked on from a throw-in and Kristian Dennis brought the ball down expertly before beating Alex Cairns in the City goal.
Then, the second half became the Callum Hendry show.
Almost immediately after the resumption of play, the Scot robbed the Superwhites of possession, beat his man superbly and then finished unerringly past Luke McGee Another sumptuous Hendry goal followed, after he collected the ball from Luke Garbutt and used the outside of his boot to give Neil Wood’s team their first lead of the contest.
Hendry’s third strike was perhaps the pick of the bunch, as he plucked Liam Shephard’s forward ball out of the air, bought himself some time and then unleashed a stunning effort into the far bottom corner, leaving McGee with no chance.
Charlie Jolley’s fortuitous goal two minutes later set-up the chance for a barnstorming ending but the Peninsula Stadium natives managed to hold on,
Your favourite game?
Ipswich vs Blackburn
Bolton vs Exeter City
Blackpool vs Fleetwood
Stockport vs Wrexham
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