Blackpool kept their faint League One play-off hopes alive with a 1-0 win over Cambridge at Bloomfield Road.

Sonny Carey’s first-half strike proved decisive to leave Neil Critchley’s men six points off sixth place.

Blackpool came flying out of the blocks, taking the game to their opponents and almost went ahead early on as Cambridge defender Mamadou Jobe nearly put through his own net and Ryan Bennett blocked a shot from Carey.

The hosts finally got their reward after a sustained period of pressure when Carey curled his effort into the bottom corner following Karamoko Dembele’s lay-off.

Jake Beesley then headed just over, and Carey hit the side netting as Blackpool remained in the ascendency up until the break.

Cambridge came close early in the second half, Gassan Ahadme headed Danny Andrew’s free-kick towards goal but Dan Grimshaw made a fine save to deny him.

Elias Kachunga had a great chance to equalise late on after Macauley Bonne slipped him through, but he hit the inside of the post.