Delfouneso bags quick-fire brace as Blackpool fight back to beat Maidstone

Posted Monday, December 02, 2019 by PA

Nathan Delfouneso netted a second-half brace as Sky Bet League One Blackpool survived a scare to come from behind and beat National League South Maidstone 3-1 at Bloomfield Road.

Saidou Khan’s magnificent strike handed the Stones the advantage before the Tangerines rallied after half-time through George Elokobi’s own-goal and Delfouneso’s quick-fire double.

The visitors stunned the hosts before the half-hour mark when Khan rasped home a sublime half-volley on the edge of the box and went close to adding his and Maidstone’s second in stoppage time as Blackpool were booed off.

But the Tangerines equalised two minutes after the restart when Joe Nuttall’s cross was blasted by Ryan Johnson into Elokobi and trickled over the line.

Blackpool then took the lead three minutes later when Delfouneso headed Sullay Kaikai’s cross past Jake Cole.

And Delfouneso celebrated his second moments later as he pounced on Elokobi’s poor pass and went one-on-one to finish smartly.

Cole denied Kaikai twice in 10 minutes to prevent a fourth Blackpool goal, while Ross Marshall’s fierce strike was deflected wide for the visitors.