Jermaine Wray, who, along with Brendan Rawlins, helped Keighley transform their fortunes today at Blackpool

Blackpool Panthers 26, Keighley Cougars 34

Shaken Cougars boss Barry Eaton admits being "pretty worried" after almost suffering a shock defeat today against a Blackpool side that hadn't won in its last 45 games.

Keighley were twice forced to battle back from behind as the perennial strugglers gave them a massive fright in Co-operative National League Two.

Danny Jones eventually clinched it for them with his second try on 75 minutes but Eaton conceded: "I was concerned - I don't mind admitting it.

"It looked like Blackpool might get their first victory against us and we were definitely below par.

"The good thing though was we'd talked before the season started that if we wanted to be a half-decent side this year then we were going to have to win when we're not at our best.

"We did that today."

The visitors went ahead through Jones' first try early on which the stand-off converted himself.

But then Blackpool stunned Keighley by surging into an 18-6 lead courtesy of efforts from Carl Jones, Kris Ratcliffe and John Leather, all improved.

The Panthers hadn't won any game since the summer of 2006 but looked ready to end that miserable run and ruin Keighley's 100 per cent start to the League Two season.

However, young winger Ryan Smith - in for Sam Gardner - and George Rayner struck just before the break and then Dan Potter and Karl Smith added further tries soon after the re-start to put Keighley back in control at 24-18 Blackpool rallied again to go 26-24 up though before Jones levelled with a penalty and then it was the schemer - man-of-the-match in Easter Monday's win over Swinton - who popped up for the winning try at the death.

Jones converted and added an injury-time penalty to make sure but Eaton said it was replacement hooker Jermaine Wray and prop Brendan Rawlins that did the real damage.

"When those two came on after 20 minutes they changed the game for us, helping us get those two tries," he said.

"Blackpool just couldn't hold Jermaine and he was the outstanding player on the pitch."

11:00pm Sunday 30th March 2008

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