FOLLOWING Cherries has become something of a white-knuckle ride in recent times so it was fitting that this 3-3 thriller should take place in the shadow of Europe's tallest and fastest rollercoaster. (Oct 2)

More than one mile long, 235 feet high and reaching speeds of up to 87 mph, the Pepsi Max Big One of Blackpool Pleasure Beach was the ideal precursor to this contest. In fact, this brute of a rollercoaster almost perfectly described it.

Initially viewed with trepidation, it was utterly petrifying in the opening moments. From the opening terror, an intense ride with a few hidden surprises at real pace left your legs feeling a bit weak.

But once it was all done, you'd got your breath back and the colour back in your cheeks, you felt pleased with yourself that you'd been brave enough to get through the experience in one piece.

In a town rammed with amusements and entertainment, Cherries currently fit the bill, as 22 goals in their last four fixtures will testify.

Perhaps Sean O'Driscoll may be growing a few extra grey hairs at some of the scorelines, but the fans who made an arduous trek north once again certainly got value for money from this encounter that eventually ended at a fair score of honours even.

After falling behind inside 90 seconds to Peter Clarke's thumping header, things went from bad to worse when they were two down with barely 10 minutes on the clock.

Blackpool's clever midfield playmaker Richie Wellens delivered a cute cross to the near post and Neil Moss was powerless to prevent Scott Vernon guiding home a header.

After last weekend's drubbing of Doncaster, suddenly the boot was on the other foot and Cherries were staring down a 200-foot freefall of a scoreline.

But after a start reminiscent of a forgetful octogenarian playing Blackpool bingo, O'Driscoll's side steadied the ship manfully and eased themselves back in the game when they could easily have rolled over and dished out a 'bad day at the office' excuse.

Wade Elliott, back on the wing after filling in at right-back in the LDV Vans Trophy defeat to Shrewsbury on Tuesday, provided a deep cross to the far post to pick out James Hayter who rose brilliantly above his marker to power a header into the top corner.

It was the unassuming striker's eighth goal of the season, 52nd of his career and took him clear of former Dean Court favourite Steve Robinson and up to ninth spot in the Cherries post-war league goalscorers list.

Blackpool, surprisingly without a home win so far this season, suddenly became edgy after dominating the early stages on a blustery afternoon.

The visitors, boosted by the unexpected foothold, gained the upper hand with Brian Stock and John Spicer taking charge in midfield and were soon on level terms.

The goal came from the same area of the pitch as Stock clipped over a left-footed cross from the right, Dani Rodrigues ghosted past his man in the box and applied a deft nod to take the ball beyond Lee Jones in the Blackpool goal for his second in as many league games.

Moss did well to prevent Scott Taylor from restoring the home side's lead just moments later after a bright one-two with Vernon but, with half-time appraching, it seemed Cherries would hit the break at least on level terms.

Four minutes before the whistle however, the northern seasiders made the most of a defensive error as the lively Paul Edwards finished well to make it 3-2.

Shaun Maher, otherwise steady and dominant in the air, got too close to Moss for a backpass when he should have ignored his more cultured principles and simply lashed it out of harm's way.

Moss was left to hack away under pressure for a throw-in from which Blackpool won the flick-on and Edwards poked home as he made a run across the defenders.

The goalkeeper's tongue-lashing of the Irish defender was probably still going on in the dressing room judging from Moss' animated reaction. Maher, as usual, remained unruffled by the episode.

With the difficult wind in their favour for the second period, Cherries set about reeling in their opponents once again as Stock forced an alert save from Jones with a snapshot from outside the box.

Spicer meanwhile was also becoming more prominent with one purposeful run from a swift counter-attack so nearly working an opening for Rodrigues, only for Clarke to get a timely toe in and avert the danger.

If the Portuguese striker was frustrated to see that chance go begging, it didn't show as he scored with an exquisite volley in the 64th minute to draw Cherries level once again.

Stock clipped in a pass to his chest and the forward controlled, turned and rifled in an unstoppable angled shot in one fluid movement for a goal of the highest quality.

Even the home fans applauded the technique as Rodrigues took the congratulations from his team-mates. When that happens, it is usually the sign of a classy strike.

With both sides now eyeing the three points, it was the home team who came the closest to securing them.

First Cherries were lucky to escape a penalty claim as Taylor crumpled under Maher's challenge for what Blackpool boss Colin Hendry later called a "stonewall penalty".

While the Scotsman could be forgiven for perhaps overstating the case, it certainly fell in the "seen them given" category as Hendry was probably explaining to the fourth official when being told to calm down in the technical area.

With just 11 minutes remaining and Blackpool again on the attack, Wellens wriggled free in the box and was denied by a last-gasp tackle from Elliott as he arrived from nowhere to time his block superbly.

Skipper Karl Broadhurst gave him a congratulatory pat on the head for his efforts. While the winger is predominantly in the side for his creative influence, his defensive duties can often be just as important.

There was time for a late cameo from Steve Fletcher, who surprisingly was added to the travelling party on Friday morning after sufficiently recovering from his ongoing knee problem.

But it was Hayter, causing problems for the defence with his direct running, who almost carved out one final opening in the final seconds. But as he drew back his foot to deliver what may have been the clincher, Clarke slid in with a vital tackle.

A late winner would probably have been cruel on Hendry's spirited outfit and while Cherries were unable to stretch their run to three straight league wins, another valuable point on their travels will set them up nicely for the next two home fixtures.