FOR one night only, the pace and passion of a Lancashire derby came to North Devon.

Blackpool may be about to start mixing with some of the world's greatest football clubs, but their neighbours Accrington Stanley were not going to bow down for the Barclays Premier League new boys.

Ian Holloway's Tangerines triumphed 2-1 at Torrington to set up a Joma 2010 South West Challenge Cup group one decider against Kilmarnock tonight.

Yet for large spells they were matched by their neighbours from Npower League Two.

A rainy evening at Vicarage Field must seem a long way away from that Championship play-off victory at Wembley in the blazing sun. But Blackpool are big news these days and even the Sky Sports cameras were in town to follow their progress.

Anyone in any doubt over the commitment shown by players in a pre-season tournament only had to witness the scuffle between the sides on the stroke of half time.

Referee Adam Bromley and assistants Craig Simpson and Steve Paul soon stepped in to separate them.

In truth it was only handbags, and a calming word for Accrington's Sean McConville and Alex Baptiste, of Blackpool, settled things down.

With former Everton and Arsenal striker Francis Jeffers making a fairly subdued debut, it was the ever-reliable Brett Ormerod providing Blackpool's main threat in the first half.

Just four minutes had gone when he latched on to a pass from Keith Southern and slotted the opening goal.

Southern, another star of the promotion dream, headed them 2-1 ahead at a similar stage in the second half.

After a World Cup that hardly produced a decent free kick between 32 nations, Accrington were blessed to have two dead-ball experts in the same side.

Jamie Ryan curled an outstanding effort around the wall to make it 1-1 just 12 minutes into the game. Even Holloway applauded.

And centre back Sean Hessey almost claimed a second equaliser as his ferocious long-range strike rattled back off the underside of the bar.

While competition rules only allow three changes per team, some unofficial substitutions saw Blackpool switch five players for the second half. By then, the crowd were enjoying an open game with chances at both ends.

Stanley goalkeeper Ian Dunbavin was embarrassed when he sliced a back-pass, only to see Jason Euell's follow-up effort cleared by McConville.

Dunbavin regained his composure though, standing up to deny Euell and saving with his feet from lively French trialist Malaury Martin.

The impressive Ryan then tested Paul Rachubka with another swerving free kick which the goalkeeper fumbled and was grateful to see trickle wide.

Behind his goal, travelling supporters had unveiled a large banner with the words 'Accrington Stanley — pride of Lancashire'. There was plenty of that on show from both teams.