Oldham 2-5 Blackpool

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A superb hat-trick from Richard Walker put Blackpool into the Northern Section finals of the LDV Vans Trophy with a 5-2 win over Oldham.

Steve McMahon's side will now face Huddersfield in the two-legged regional final.

Oldham took the lead after three minutes when skipper Lee Duxbury headed his sixth goal of the season.

Wales under-21 striker Matthew Tipton then wasted two glorious chances to put the game out of Blackpool's reach.

The home side were made to pay for their profligacy when they were reduced to 10 men after Darren Sheridan was sent off for the third time this season for a professional foul on Richie Wellens.

The Seasiders quickly made the extra man count when 24-year-old Walker hit a double in nine explosive minutes.

He scored his first after 27 minutes then followed up to claim his second nine minutes before the interval.

Oldham, who have twice beaten the visitors in league games this season, hit back to level within a minute of the restart when top scorer David Eyres volleyed home.

But Blackpool again took control and substitute John Murphy grabbed the third with 25 minutes to go just four minutes after coming off the bench.

Martin Bullock made it four 10 minutes from time and Walker smashed in his hat-trick with just two minutes left on the clock.

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Teams:

Oldham: Kelly, Holden, Baudet, Beharall, Armstrong, Murray, Duxbury, Darren Sheridan, Eyres, Tipton, Smart.
Subs: Rachubka, McNiven, Eyre, Dudley, Balmer.

Blackpool: Barnes, Coid, Day, Reid, Jaszczun, Bullock, Collins, Wellens, Hills, Walker, Fenton.
Subs: O'Kane, Hughes, John Murphy, Simpson, Pullen.

Referee: R Beeby (Northampton)