Barnsley's interest in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy was ended at Bloomfield Road this evening.
Despite leading at the break thanks to John McAtee's finish, the Reds exited the Bristol Street Motors Trophy in Blackpool as goals from Owen Dale and Jake Beesley completed a second half Tangerines comeback.
The first half was largely dominated by Neill Collins' side who were winning their duels and first to arrive in most challenges, both on the deck and aerially, setting a platform from which to build.
After some neat footwork from Callum Styles, the Hungarian international slid the ball into the path of the onrushing Adam Phillips some 25 yards from the Blackpool goal, but his contact was poor, slicing the ball well wide.
With 10 minutes on the clock, it was John McAtee's turn to try his luck and this time from all of 35 yards as he spotted Tangerines goalkeeper, Richard O'Donnell off his line. However, the former Sheffield Wednesday stopper raced back in time to claim the ball on his goalline.
The three central defenders were looking strong at the back for Barnsley and Kacper Łopata - back in the starting lineup for the first time since September following injury - stepped into midfield, found captain for the evening, Herbie Kane whose ball to Styles was quickly funneled out to his left and Nicky Cadden on a raid. The Scot jinked by his marker but his powerful effort from the angle was parried away by O'Donnell.
We saw the first effort of the night from our hosts on 20 minutes as Albie Morgan chanced his arm from all of 30 yards with a low, skidding shot that Reds' stopper Ben Killip had no trouble dealing with.
Łopata was denied point blank by O'Donnell from an inswinging corner whipped in beautifully by Kane, before Barnsley did edge in front going into the half time interval.
A direct ball from McCart out of defence saw Sam Cosgrove and Blackpool defender Marvin Ekpiteta both miss attempted headers and that allowed McAtee to race in on goal, shrug off the challenges of both Callum Connolly and Oliver Casey before placing the ball low and to O'Donnell's left and hand the Reds a lead their performance had warranted.
The forward looked to have hurt his ankle as O'Donnell met him, which saw the Reds play out the last few minutes of the half with 10 men.
HALF TIME: Blackpool 0-1 Barnsley
McAtee did indeed succumb to that injury, replaced by Max Watters at the break. And within two minutes of the restart, the striker stole possession from Ekpiteta inside the box but was unable to beat O'Donnell one-on-one who got a touch to divert the shot wide.
It was noticeable, however, just how lively Blackpool now looked following the interval and perhaps some encouragement from their Head Coach, Neil Critchley. It was they who were now winning the duels and first to all challenges.
On 53 minutes they'd equalise. Reds defenders were pulled out of position on the counter and Jensen Weir squared at the byline down the right for Dale to side-foot the hosts level from a few yards out.
It was all Blackpool at this stage and Killip had to make two great saves to keep the scores tied. The first from Albie Morgan and then brilliantly low down to thwart Beesley.
Collins looked to his bench and club captain, Jordan Williams entered the fray, replacing Łopata, but three minutes later it was 2-1 to the Tangerines. The Reds lost the ball in midfield and from that turnover the home side galloped down the right with Morgan's inch-perfect cross finding the head of Beesley six yards from goal who had climbed above Williams to nod into the far corner.
There was a header from Cosgrove that dropped just wide and a free-kick from substitute Fábio Jaló that stung the hands of O'Donnell, but Blackpool were superior after the break and earned their progress in the competition.
FULL TIME: Blackpool 2-1 Barnsley
Killip, Cotter, de Gevigney, Łopata (Williams), McCart, Cadden (Dodgson), Kane, Styles (O'Keeffe), Phillips, McAtee (Watters), Cosgrove (Jaló).
Unused: Cooper, Russell.
