Niall Ennis’ brace helps Blackpool snap home draw streak

A first-half brace from Niall Ennis helped Blackpool to a 3-1 win at home to Crawley.

The Seasiders won despite playing more than an hour with 10 men following Ashley Fletcher’s red card, and in doing so ended their run of eight straight home draws.

Blackpool began strongly and should have led when Albie Morgan won the ball high up the pitch and slipped in Sonny Carey, who hit the side-netting.

The respite for Crawley did not last long as, a minute later, Ennis scored a well-placed header from CJ Hamilton’s cross.

Another Hamilton ball in almost led to a second but Morgan was thwarted by a full-length save by goalkeeper Joe Wollacott.

Morgan did play a part in Blackpool’s second after 18 minutes. His low shot was pounced on by Ennis, who got the slightest of touches with Wollacott caught in two minds.

The first half was turned on its head in the space of two minutes on the half-hour mark.

Crawley halved the deficit when Max Anderson picked out Kamari Doyle for a simple finish and shortly afterwards, Fletcher’s challenge on Charlie Barker saw him dismissed by referee Tom Reeves for violent conduct.

Ennis created a glorious chance to complete his hat-trick in the second half, overpowering and racing clear of the defence but, with only Wollacott to beat, he shot wide.

Lee Evans sealed Blackpool’s win with a 79th-minute penalty after Doyle’s foul on Jordan Gabriel.