A late header from Shaun Barker wasn't enough to earn Pool a point as time ran out with The Seasiders trailing Stoke 3-2.
Two goals from Ricardo Fuller, including the third proved to be too much for Pool but with another ten minutes in the game The Seasiders may well have got another result.
It was set-plays that were to be the undoing of the side but there was no lack of effort from the Tangerines as they fought until the last kick of the game to come back from what initially was a scoreline of 3-1 down.
The Seasiders made an action packed start to the game pushing on offensively straight from the kick-off. Shaun Barker burst down the right to pick up the ball before playing the ball into the box. The first man to attempt a touch was Bartosz Slusarski but he couldn't connect with the ball but that allowed Ben Burgess to take the ball down on his chest before hitting the ball on the half volley forcing Steve Simonsen into a save inside 20 seconds.
It was the first of some frantic action in a rare first half where Pool were attacking the Tangerine faithful.
Stoke then looked to take the lead through Liam Lawrence. The right-sided midfielder cut in field to unleash a shot that Ricardo Fuller looked to step over and fool Paul Rachubka but Chubs held the ball well.
The height of Ben and Bart was causing Stoke endless problems with their flick-ons and link up play but it was another Seasider who opened the scoring.
With Pool continuing to attack the ball was cleared out of the box but fell straight to the feet of MICHAEL FLYNN. Flynn didn't need telling to shout twice and let fly on the half volley and found the bottom left corner (13).
BLACKPOOL 1 STOKE CITY 0
The goal was nothing more than Pool deserved and Flynn looked to go again for goal moments later when Wes Hoolahan squared the ball across. Unfortunately for Flynny and the rest of the Pool fans the ball flew wide and over.
Paul Rachubka was then forced into two saves from former Preston strikers Ricardo Fuller and Richard Cresswell, while Ryan Shawcross half-volleyed the ball over from the corner.
As Stoke pressed to find the equaliser it was a former Bloomfield loanee Andy Wilkinson who nearly marked his return with a goal. The right-back played a neat one-two with Liam Lawrence before blasting over in space when free in the box.
The chances later told as Stoke found the equaliser in the 37th minute. Paul Rachubka was forced to tip the ball away following an inswinging corner but the ball fell to the feet of RICARDO FULLER to turn the ball into the top right corner of the goal from an angle.
BLACKPOOL 1 STOKE CITY 1
Three minutes later Stoke took the lead. Liam Lawrence put the ball into the box from the corner again and found a near post run from defender LEON CORT who headed home (40).
BLACKPOOL 1 STOKE CITY 2
The reverse in score was harsh on the Tangerines, as they looked the more dominant team in the affair.
HALF TIME SCORE - BLACKPOOL 1 STOKE CITY 0
The second half started with Pool pushing forward in numbers to find the leveller. It took ten minutes to see the first real threat in what was nearly the perfect goal. Neat intricate passing between Wes Hoolahan and Ben Burgess resulted in Ben looking to find the bottom corner but his effort was deflected up in the air and cleared back to Wes. The little Irishman then fired straight at the keeper.
The Seasiders continued to impose themselves on the Potters with the Tangerine faithful lifting to will the boys on. Burgess aimed to give them another goal to celebrate but his effort curled over.
As the momentum continued to build Claus Jorgensen's ball was intercepted by Liam Lawrence, who then found RICARDO FULLER in space. The Jamaican broke clear to slot home (60) despite the best efforts of Ian Evatt.
BLACKPOOL 1 STOKE CITY 3
The goal forced Simon Grayson into a double substitution with Andy Morrell and David Fox coming onto the field for Claus Jorgensen and Bartosz Slusarski.
Within minutes of them coming onto the pitch Michael Flynn looped a header just over the bar before Morrell later took the ball down in the six yard box only to strike inches wide of the right-hand post.
Time began to tell on the Tangerines before Simon Grayson's last throw of the dice. Andy Welsh came on for Gary Taylor-Fletcher with five minutes remaining.
His impact was immediate. Two minutes remained on the clock as Welsh floated a corner into the box, it was met by SHAUN BARKER who headed the ball into the back of the net despite the best efforts a Stoke defender on the line (88).
BLACKPOOL 2 STOKE CITY 3
The crowd were to lift even higher, when the fourth official signalled that there would be five minutes of added time. The first witnessed Michael Flynn drill the ball narrowly wide from a short free-kick.
Ryan Shawcross was then very lucky to remain on the field when he brought down Andy Morrell in the corner. Shawcross had already been booked following an earlier altercation with Ben Burgess. The resulting free-kick was headed out by Shawcross before the referee blew the final whistle as time ran out.
FINAL SCORE: BLACKPOOL 2 STOKE CITY 3
