Blackpool 2-1 Exeter: Blackpool gain promotion

The troubled Seasiders have played all season to a backdrop of supporter boycotts and protests against the club's owners.

They only secured their place in the Sky Bet League Two play-offs by winning the final-day scramble for seventh place, and then needed a stoppage-time own-goal to beat Luton 6-5 on aggregate in the semi-finals.

Most of their disgruntled fans, who want rid of owners the Oyston family, stayed away from the national stadium - Blackpool sold around 5,000 tickets compared to the 37,000 who saw them secure promotion to the Premier League only seven years ago.

Yet the 5,000 were celebrating as goals from Potts and Cullen sealed their return to League One after just one season in the basement division.

It was tough on Exeter, who battled hard and had a memorable Wembley goal, scored by David Wheeler, to show for their efforts.

But they could not replicate the efforts of their rugby union counterparts - the Exeter Chiefs won the Aviva Premiership final down the road at Twickenham on Saturday - as Blackpool lifted the trophy.

A half-empty Wembley provided a surreal atmosphere, but one Blackpool's players are used to with thousands of fans having refused to attend their home games all season.

Those supporters who were in attendance saw their side take the lead with a shade over two minutes on the clock.

Cullen held up a long ball from the back before laying it off to the onrushing Potts, who drove first time past Grecians goalkeeper Christy Pym from the edge of the area.

Exeter almost hit back in 10th minute when Wheeler teed up Ollie Watkins 10 yards out but the striker, the EFL young player of the year, was denied by a superb save from Sam Slocombe.

Blackpool, already without injured captain Andy Taylor, lost their stand-in skipper Tom Aldred when he limped off after half an hour.

And five minutes before half-time Exeter hauled themselves level with an exquisite goal from Wheeler, who took one sublime touch to control a 60-yard pass from Craig Woodman before hooking the ball over Slocombe and into the net.

Blackpool got their noses back in front in the 65th minute when Potts raced onto a cute back-header from Kyle Vassell.

Potts prodded the ball goalwards and, although Pym got a touch, it fell perfectly for Cullen to slide in and guide over the line.

Exeter attempted to hit back again but substitute Reuben Reid fired wide and Watkins headed over in stoppage time as Blackpool held out for victory.

Reaction

Blackpool boss Gary Bowyer: "We got a fantastic start and we showed a lot of guts and determination against a very good Exeter team.

"We were clinical with our opportunities today and I think that was the difference.

"I can't stress how proud I am of these players because a lot of them are on one leg.

"It was unbelievable the effort that they showed.

"Having been a football fan all my life, to come and do this today is fantastic.

"It's an amazing achievement.

"When you consider when we first came into the club and what's happened in the last couple of years, it's enormous credit to the staff and players.

"It's unbelievable, it really is. It's an amazing feeling and it will stay with the players for a long, long time."

Bowyer on off-field problems: "I cant control that, I have no control over that.

"We can only affect the training and coaching and working with the players.

"It would have been great to have more fans here but the ones who were here made a lot of noise.

"On the first day I walked into club I said we can't control that. All I can affect is the performances on the pitch."

Stand-in captain Tom Aldred: "Emotional's the word to use." 

Goalscorer Brad Potts: "It's been a long old season.

"It's been tough at times, but it feels absolutely incredible. I'm over the moon."

Fellow scorer Matt Cullen: "It's absolutely brilliant to get the winner at Wembley."

Exeter boss Paul Tisdale: "I felt comfortable at half-time.

"I felt we had a really good first half.

"They had the best 10 minutes after half-time and they got the goal at an important time.

"I'm disappointed that we probably didn't do our best in the last half-an-hour.

"It's a tough environment to play in, with the pressure, and the performance doesn't always get the result.

"But I'm proud of players for season we had. We regret today in terms of the result, but we should be very pleased with what we achieved this season.

"We gave ourselves a chance today, but we couldn't take it."