Six-goal thriller sees spoils shared

31 October 2009 18:09
Sharp, on loan from Sheffield United, latched on to James Hayter's flick-on and coolly slotted the ball beyond Blackpool goalkeeper Matthew Gilks to clinch a crucial point for Doncaster, who have won only two league games this season.[LNB]Blackpool pair Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Ben Burgess had produced two moments of individual brilliance in the second half as Blackpool hit back to lead 3-2, but Sharp had the last laugh with his second of the match.[LNB]Martin Woods fired an early opener for Rovers before Blackpool levelled through defender Ian Evatt halfway through the first half and Sharp put the home side back in front with his first of the afternoon a minute after the restart.[LNB]Doncaster, who recalled Gareth Roberts at left-back and John Oster in midfield, made a flying start to the game.[LNB]James Coppinger had already tested Gilks with a shot from the edge of the penalty area when Oster crossed from the right in the fifth minute and Woods converted in fine style from 12 yards with a low left-footed shot into the bottom corner.[LNB]Doncaster went on to dominate the first 20 minutes. Coppinger headed Oster's corner wide, Sharp's snap-shot was superbly blocked by Gilks and Simon Gillett's effort following Woods' cross flashed the wrong side of the post.[LNB]But Blackpool drew level in their first attack and all of a sudden turned the first half on its head.[LNB]David Vaughan sent over a deep corner and centre-half Evatt outjumped the home defence to power a header beyond Doncaster goalkeeper Neil Sullivan.[LNB]Blackpool were first on the offensive after the restart and Sullivan did well to hold Ormerod's shot from another Vaughan corner.[LNB]But within moments Rovers regained the lead as Roberts galloped down the left and sent over a fine cross that Sharp swept home from six yards.[LNB]Rovers were visibly lifted after getting their noses in front for a second time and Gilks was tested again by Woods' angled shot from 12 yards.[LNB]But Blackpool bounced back. Burgess squandered a gilt-edged chance to level when he shot tamely at Gilks from Stephen Crainey's free-kick and then a moment of magic from Emmanuel-Thomas made it 2-2.[LNB]The Seasiders midfielder showed lightning-quick feet on the edge of the penalty area and arrowed a left-footed shot into the bottom corner in the 62nd minute.[LNB]In a thrilling passage of play, Woods almost snatched the lead back for the home side moments later.[LNB]The Rovers midfielder lashed in a shot from the edge of the area that Gilks kept out at full stretch and the Blackpool keeper saved brilliantly again to keep out Coppinger's close-range effort before Sharp blazed over the crossbar.[LNB]At the other end Keith Southern was denied by Sullivan and Alex Baptiste's header whistled wide as both sides chased a winner.[LNB]And it was Blackpool who edged ahead, taking the lead for the first time when Burgess turned smartly to curl a left-footed shot into the top corner in the 77th minute.[LNB]But as the visitors appeared set for only their second away win of the season, Sharp pounced on Hayter's headed pass in the last minute to deny Ian Holloway's side.[LNB][LNB][LNB]

Source: Team_Talk