TORRENTIAL rain poured like a veil of tears upon the misery that was Town's FA Cup exit.

What little quality was on offer was slowly drained from the contest by mother nature and the outcome settled by a highly controversial penalty decision.

It went against startled Town centre-back Nathan Clarke, who could do nothing to avoid a driven cross by Keigan Parker at little more than umbrella distance in the 69th minute.

Midlands referee Andy Hall - who was terribly inconsistent with his bookings - decided it was deliberate hand to ball and loan man Wes Hoolahan made no mistake from the spot with a firm left-foot drive after a dummied run-up.

Few in a crowd of 6,597 - including many of the 1,570 who made the trip from Blackpool - agreed with what appeared a harsh decision.

But then you got the impression it wasn't going to be Town's day when, after a mind-numbingly bad first half, they went perilously close to taking the lead early in the second.

Clarke, again, was at the centre of attention and, indeed, the centre of the pitch as a poor clearance from Blackpool keeper Rhys Evans fell nicely to him in the circle.

Spotting the keeper still well off his line, Clarke used the prevailing wind to launch a terrific shot which bounced over Evans and hit the bar.

As the ball rebounded, leading scorer Gary Taylor-Fletcher seemed certain to score, but he delayed the follow-up just long enough for Shaun Barker to make a goal-saving challenge and Evans smothered any remaining danger.

It was that sort of day for Town.

Desperate for a win on home soil after first-hurdle exits in the Carling Cup and Johnstone's Paint Trophy, little came fluently and everything seemed a massive effort.

There were bright interludes from Danny Schofield, Fletcher and Mark Hudson without ever really opening the Blackpool defence, while shots from Jon Worthington (53 minutes) and Michael Collins (63) were only inches off providing a lead which would have given Peter Jackson's side an enormous boost.

Playing 4-1-4-1 until after the penalty, however, infuriated some sections of Town support, especially when Luke Beckett landed a shot on the roof of the net just a minute after going on.

It all became desperation stuff after that, with Matt Glennon - who had earlier saved smartly from Keith Southern's header - going up for a series of late free-kicks and corners.

It was to no avail, and when Schofield's last-minute volley fizzed into the side netting rather than the target, even the faithful who had stayed knew Town's Cup campaigns for the season were over.

Fletcher, Clarke and John McCombe, who stepped in for the injured Martin McIntosh, all had reasonable games but the pick for Town was 17-year-old left-back Joe Skarz, who again looked steady.

Indeed, his 24th-minute clearance from Andy Morrell, after the tricky Hoolahan had raided to win a corner, showed maturity beyond his years and plenty of confidence.

His peers now need to follow suit because if Town don't start to perk up, their League position within striking distance of the top six will quickly disintegrate too.

Next page: How they rated >>>

Matt Glennon Did well in diabolical wet weather and wasn't afraid to go up for all Town's set-pieces and corners late in the game Rating: 5/10

Andy Holdsworth Got back to make a top clearance from Hoolahan on 57 minutes. Booked and now suspended for Saturday's return game Rating: 5/10

Joe Skarz Stuck to his guns and looks to be learning fast, he was the pick for Town. Had to give the bubbly to his parents! Rating: 6/10

John McCombe Dependable effort after being called in at the last minute for groin injury victim Martin McIntosh. Solid enough Rating: 5/10

Nathan Clarke Desperately unlucky to have the decisive penalty awarded against him. Hit the bar with long-range shot Rating: 5/10

Michael Collins Grafted hard and went close with a 30-yard shot in the 63rd minute. Sacrificed in formation switch after the goal Rating: 5/10

Jon Worthington Very unlucky to get a yellow card when he clearly won the ball from Fox. Close with a shot in the 53rd minute Rating: 5/10

Mark Hudson Not a sniff of a chance going forward but made a great tackle back to stop Hoolahan getting on the end of a low cross Rating: 5/10

Danny Schofield Hammered a late shot into the side netting which many thought had gone in. Limped off injured in final minute Rating: 5/10

Andy Booth Frustrating day for the big lone frontman who never got a sight of goal and didn't get the best of service either Rating: 5/10

Gary T-Fletcher Should have put Town ahead when Clarke's half-way line shot came back off the bar. Some decent runs and supply Rating: 5/10

Turning Point:

Gary Taylor-Fletcher, with his head shaven in a new look, ought to have scored when a half-way line shot from Nathan Clarke bounced over keeper Rhys Evans and bounced back off the bar.

Town's top scorer just hesitated slightly, however, and full-back Shaun Barker was able to make a sliding challenge before Evans tidied up on the deck

Spotlight on the ref:

West Midlands whistler Andy Hall gave a very harsh penalty for handball against Nathan Clarke when Keigan Parker drove the ball in at close range. Wes Hoolahan made no mistake from the spot. Also harsh were Town's three bookings when very similar offences seemed to go unpunished for the visitors

Blackpool: Evans, Barker, Jackson, Evatt, Dickinson; Forbes, Fox (Jorgensen 85), Southern, Hoolahan; Morrell, Parker (Vernon 90).

Subs not used: Tierney, Joseph, Blinkhorn.

Bookings: Southern.