Blackpool 3 Barnet 2

Scorers: Ormerod 46 Simpson 53,61;

Purser 35 Parkinson og 64

Attendance: 5289

AT half time the Seasiders were a goal down and their play-off chances were looking bleak, as Pool had never won a game all season after conceding the first goal.

The word "comeback" wasn't in Steve McMahon's vocabulary. That was until this second half performance where Blackpool defied all the odds to score three goals in 15 minutes and hang on for a vital 3-2 victory despite gifting Barnet a second goal.

In truth this encounter with relegation-threatened Barnet could -- and should -- have been over by the 20-minute mark. McMahon's men were rampant and it was amazing how they managed not to score in the game's opening spell.

The passing was slick, defending solid and it was chances galore in front of the Barnet goal but all of them went begging.

After missing so many chances the confidence drained away and the visitors got into the game for the first time. And surprise, surprise, Barnet went ahead with their first real chance of the game.

Wayne Purser managed to wriggle his way through the challenges from Steve Bushell and Gary Parkinson and then skip past a rash Danny Shittu lunge. With time and space on the ball the Barnet winger picked his spot wonderfully to beat Phil Barnes at his near post.

But whatever Steve McMahon did at half time it certainly worked as Pool came out a rejuvenated after the interval and within minutes of the kick-off they equalised.

A "route one" ball from Phil Barnes somehow found itself at the feet of Brett Ormerod who, with only the keeper to beat, coolly placed it into the far corner.

This put Blackpool firmly back in the ascendancy and the opportunities resumed. Richard Wellens was once again marshalling the midfield and Paul Simpson on the left wing was inspirational.

The Seasiders went ahead seven minutes after equalising. Simpson was the scorer, beating everyone at the near post with a low drive after a short corner routine with Gary Parkinson.

With Pool rampant there were several let offs for Barnet before the Seasiders finally did get a vital third goal on the hour mark.

Simpson was again the hero and it was a real cracker from the Seasiders' Player of the Season. After Ormerod and Murphy both had shots blocked by some desperate defending, the ball fell to Simpson around the penalty spot. With little time, and an even smaller sight of goal, Simpson somehow managed to find the net with a superb curler.

But the scenes of jubilation and the security of a two-goal cushion were short lived. Just minutes later Barnet pulled a goal back.

Full-back Sam Stockly left the Pool defence for dead and drilled a low ball across the face of goal. Running in with a Barnet attacker at the far post was Gary Parkinson who failed to react to the cross quick enough and shinned the ball into the net for an own goal.

But Barnet rarely threatened after that and after a long three minutes of injury time the referee finally blew for full-time and the army of Blackpool supporters traditionally invaded the pitch to signal the last home game of the season.