2001 Football League Third Division play-off Final


The 2001 Football League Third Division play-off Final was contested by Blackpool and Leyton Orient. It was the first season that the play-off Finals were contested in Cardiff's Millennium Stadium following the demolition of Wembley.

Route to the final

Summary

Leyton Orient scored the opening goal after goalkeeper Phil Barnes slipped attempting to control a backpass from Brian Reid which allowed Chris Tate to tap in after 27 seconds. On 34 minutes, Ian Hughes scored the equaliser for Blackpool unmarked from a corner 8 yards out.
2 minutes later, Leyton Orient went back in front when Scott Houghton struck from 20 yards out into the bottom right hand corner of Barnes' net. Just before half-time, Blackpool were again level when Brian Reid scrambled the ball in from Gary Parkinson's cross past Bayes.
On 77 minutes, Paul Simpson gave Blackpool the lead for the first time in the match as he was set up by Brett Ormerod to slot past Bayes. Ormerod then wrapped the game up with 2 minutes of normal time left when he slotted home John Hills' cross from 6 yards.

Details