An injury-time goal from defender Eric Yoro completed a successful second-half comeback as the B Team secured their first Central League win of the campaign, writes Pete Oliver.
Yoro followed up to force the ball home from close range to claim his first competitive goal for Wanderers and give the young Whites victory after a superb goal from Finlay Lockett had launched the fightback.
Blackpool scored early to lead at the break but Wanderers defied the testing conditions at Bamber Bridge to gain maximum reward for an impressive second-half showing as they put their first points on the board at the third time of asking in their league programme.
Wanderers, back in action for the first time in almost a month, had gone behind after just seven minutes when Josh Nyame reacted quickest to a low free-kick played in towards the near post and steered home the opening goal.
The Whites looked to respond with a chance for Trevon Bryan but the striker saw his shot blocked and on a uneven surface which made passing difficult there were few other opportunities to level before the break.
However, one player who did defy the tricky conditions and look capable of making something happen was Lockett and eight minutes into the second half he made it 1-1.
Blackpool had just missed a great chance to score at the other end through Zak Emmerson and Lockett made them pay.
The game’s stand-out performer controlled a pass from Matty Tweedley and made space inside the box to curl a perfect left-footed shot into the top corner.
The Whites almost undid their good work by conceding possession and allowing one of Blackpool’s two trialists a strike on goal which was well saved by Jack Flint.
But Wanderers then enjoyed their best spell as they did their best to move the ball around in a period of pressure around the Seasiders’ penalty area as Ben Andreucci worked hard to find an opening and Lockett and Wes Frimpong threatened down the right-hand side.
The Whites couldn’t force a further breakthrough, though, and it took a fine save from Flint to keep out a header from Nyame as Darren France also went close to restoring the hosts’ lead late on.
But Wanderers kept pushing in the dying stages and after substitute Gio Lourero had seen a shot blocked they grabbed a dramatic winner.
Arran Pettifer had been one of Wanderers’ driving forces from midfield and with one last push he let fly with a deflected effort which Seasiders’ keeper Matteo Spinelli couldn’t keep out and as the ball spun towards goal, Yoro pounced to get the final touch and make it a winning start to 2024.
Wanderers B: Flint; Halford, Yoro, Hayes-Green; Tweedley; Frimpong, Pettifer, Lockett (Fleury 78), Inwood; Andreucci (Adimbola 70), Bryan (Lourero, 66). Substitutes: Dallimore, Toure.
Blackpool Res: Spinelli; Amadi-Emina, Opawole, Hill; Donkor, Nyame, Mariette, Lankshear (Oliver 36); Trialist (Daniel 60); Trialist (Frances 60), Emmerson.
Referee: Ryan Aldred
Pictures: Ben Livingstone