HYDE UNITED 1, BLACKPOOL 1
An experimental formation was abandoned as Hyde United came from behind to draw with Blackpool.
Manager Nick Spooner had used three centre backs in the opening half against what was effectively the Seasiders’ Under-23 side.
But a switch to a more traditional 4-4-2 in the second period reaped rewards and the Tigers might even have won.
Spooner, who described it as a good workout, said: “We played a different shape, and one the players were not used to.
“When we changed to four at the back for the second half, our normal shape, got on top, created chances and were far better.”
It was clearly a case of better experimenting pre-season rather than when the Northern Premier League campaign begins two weeks on Saturday.
Blackpool created the clearer chances in the opening half, Huddersfield Town trialist goalkeeper Giosue Bellagambi making two decent saves and Josh Nyame hitting the bar with a looping header.
It was no surprise, therefore, when Brad Holmes made the breakthrough for Blackpool in the 31st minute, glancing home a header from a left-wing cross.
Hyde were a completely different animal from the restart as they were suddenly the team creating chances.
Eddie Brown forced a great reflex save from goalkeeper Archie Cunningham and had another goalbound effort blocked while Jordan Fagbola’s free header from a corner was cleared of the line by Luke Mariette.
Blackpool also struck the frame of the Hyde goal before Hyde equalised with 19 minutes left.
Adam Dawson drove a low free kick into the box and Jack Redshaw reacted quickest to fire low past Cunningham with the sweetest of strikes, his fourth goal on his last two games after a hat-trick in last Saturday’s 6-0 win at Abbey Hey.
In the final 11 minutes, Hyde had four chances to win the game as they finished the stronger.
Cunningham saved twice to deny a trialist, Tom Pratt rounded the keeper only to fire into the side netting from a tight angle and substitute Chinedu Uche’s downward header looped over the bar.