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Blackpool vs Luton Town. Sky Bet League Two Play-Offs Semi-Final.

Bloomfield RoadAttendance3,882.

Blackpool 3

  • M Cullen (19th minute, 47th minute, 67th minute pen)

Luton Town 2

  • D Potts (26th minute)
  • I Vassell (28th minute)

Blackpool 3-2 Luton: Mark Cullen hat-trick sees Tangerines edge first-leg epic

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Highlights from the Sky Bet League Two semi-final first leg between Blackpool and Luton at Bloomfield Road.

Mark Cullen scored a hat-trick against his former side as Blackpool beat Luton 3-2 in an epic first leg of their Sky Bet League Two play-off semi-final.

The striker netted the first for the Tangerines on Sunday evening and bagged two more after Luton had initially turned the tie on its head with goals from Dan Potts and Isaac Vassell.

It was a sparse home crowd due to the ongoing protests against the club owners, but those in attendance were treated to a superb encounter at Bloomfield Road.

And Blackpool will feel they have the edge heading into the second leg at Kenilworth Road on Thursday night, where they'll continue their tussle for a place in the final at Wembley.

Luton Town's Scott Cuthbert (right) battles for the ball with Blackpool's Tom Aldredl with Dan Potts (left), during the Sky Bet League Two Play Off, First
Image: Luton Town's Scott Cuthbert (right) battles for the ball with Blackpool's Tom Aldred

All four EFL play-off first legs that had already taken place in the Championship and League One before Sunday evening saw goalless first halves, but that wasn't to be the case here.

Cullen was on hand to net the opener after 19 minutes, receiving the ball in the area and seeing his effort squirm past Stuart Moore in the Luton goal.

Luton then fought their way into the lead thanks to two goals created by young defender James Justin. First, his low cross after 26 minutes ricocheting into the path of Potts, who fired in off the underside of the crossbar. Then, Vassell smashed a first-time effort past Sam Slocombe after Justin had found him in the box just over two minutes later.

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Luton Town's Isaac Vassell (second left) celebrates scoring his teams second goal against Blackpool, during the Sky Bet League Two Play Off, First Leg matc
Image: Luton Town's Isaac Vassell (second left) celebrates scoring his team's second goal

But Cullen would haunt his old team again, his second being an absolute beauty as he curled home an unstoppable 25-yard effort just after the break to make it 2-2.

And the pendulum swung again as Cullen put Blackpool in the lead in the tie from the spot on 67 minutes with his hat-trick goal, after Tom Aldred had been hauled down in the box by Scott Cuthbert.

The other tie was equally dramatic, as Carlisle dragged themselves back from two-goals behind to draw 3-3 with Exeter, meaning both ties are well poised heading into the second legs.

Blackpool boss Gary Bowyer:

"We would have taken that before the game but there's a lot of work to do. We've shown great resilience to come back after they came back at us, and the manner in which we did it was very pleasing.

"But we've got to keep our feet on the ground now and go to Luton with the confidence of tonight's game, but knowing there's a lot more to do. We know they'll respond because they're a very good team.

"[Cullen] is a goal scorer and he's taken his first one so well, the second one is an unbelievable strike and then he's shown the bravery to step up and take the penalty."

Luton boss Nathan Jones:

"We're disappointed we lost the game, especially from a wonderful position of 2-1 at half-time, but that's what happens.

"It's difficult because we've got the second best defensive record in the league but stuff was happening tonight that wasn't us, maybe it was nerves or the importance of the play-offs but we were a bit naive. We didn't defend well tonight and it cost us, but we scored two goals and created other chances.

"On Thursday we've got to win the game, but that's nothing different for us because we try to win every game."

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