Blackpool chalked up another pre-season victory at Chorley, as Mark Cullen continued his return from injury with another two goals.



A stunner from Danny Philliskirk, picking out the corner from 20 yards, got the ball rolling and he turned provider for Cullen minutes after the break.

Cullen completed the victory after racing onto a pass from Armand Gnanuillet and calmly finishing the scoring on 66 minutes.

It was a well-fought opening to proceedings at Victory Park, ideal for this stage of pre-season, and Blackpool mustered the first opening when Cullen sent Philliskirk through, but the latter dragged wide on his right foot.

The next opening fell to new boy Sean Longstaff but, after an advantage was played for a foul on Gnanduillet, the midfielder’s effort was kept out by the feet of Matt Urwin.

It was nearing the half-hour mark when Ben Williams made his first serious save, as the goalkeeper had to be at his best to tip over an effort from Terry Gornell.

At the other end Peter Hartley, who was left unmarked from Nick Anderton’s corner, had an effort cleared from almost on the goal line.

The opening goal had been coming and finally arrived on 34 minutes, as Philliskirk fired a brilliant effort into the top corner from all of 20 yards.

Seconds later it should have been two, as Gnanduillet ghosted his way into the penalty area, jinxing past each defender but, when he should have squared for Cullen, was eventually crowded out.

Half-Time: Chorley 0 Blackpool 1

After the break the visitors quickly made it two, as Anderton’s cross was flicked into Cullen’s path by Philliskirk and the striker was coolness personified when tucking his effort beyond Urwin.

The closest Chorley came to scoring came in the 48th minute, but after Gornell’s header had come off the inside of the post, Williams reacted quickest to thwart Marcus Carver.

From the resulting corner Williams again excelled, getting down low to keep out Adam Roscoe. The stopper made way soon after, ending on a high, as Christoffer Mafoumbi took to the field.

Blackpool’s third goal killed it as a contest, as Cullen raced onto a chested pass from Gnanduillet, before giving the goalkeeper the eyes and picking out the opposite top corner.

That was the striker’s final contribution, as he was replaced by Caleb Richards, with Nathan Delfouneso and Ollie Turton pushing up a position.

With time running our Urwin made another impressive to deny Andy Taylor, as Blackpool ran out 3-0 winners.

Full-Time: Chorley 0 Blackpool 3

Team: Williams (Mafoumbi), Turton (Newton), Taylor, Hartley, Anderton, Trialist, Longstaff (Sumner), Delfouneso (Des Pres), Philliskirk, Cullen (Richards), Gnanduillet.