Old Edwardians won a breathless Sierra Leone Premier League contest 3-2 at Mighty Blackpool on Sunday, twice recovering from losing positions before snatching the winner late in a five-goal thriller in Freetown.

Match overview

Mighty Blackpool started brightly in front of their home support and took the lead in the 18th minute when Abu Bakarr Kamara latched onto a loose ball inside the area and swept it into the bottom corner. The opener lifted the hosts, who pressed high and forced Old Edwardians into a series of hurried clearances. But the visitors grew into the game and equalised in the 33rd minute through Alhaji Turay, who timed his run perfectly to meet a cross from the right and head past the goalkeeper.

Blackpool restored their advantage early in the second half when Sorie Ibrahim Sesay finished a well-worked move, converting from close range after a neat exchange on the edge of the box. Old Edwardians responded again, this time through Mohamed Fofanah, whose curling effort from the edge of the area found the far corner in the 71st minute. With the game seemingly heading for a draw, Turay struck again six minutes from time, arriving at the back post to turn in a low delivery and complete a memorable comeback.

Key moments

• 18’ — Blackpool take the lead: Abu Bakarr Kamara reacts quickest to a half-cleared ball and fires low into the corner.
• 33’ — Old Edwardians equalise: Alhaji Turay meets a right-wing cross with a firm header to make it 1-1.
• 57’ — Blackpool edge ahead again: Sorie Ibrahim Sesay finishes a slick passing move inside the penalty area.
• 71’ — Fofanah levels: Mohamed Fofanah curls a precise effort beyond the goalkeeper from the edge of the box.
• 84’ — Turay wins it: The forward arrives late at the back post to convert a low cross and seal all three points.

Tactical story

Mighty Blackpool controlled much of the possession and looked to build through midfield, but their attacking ambition left space behind the full-backs for Old Edwardians to exploit. The visitors defended in a compact mid-block and were happy to let Blackpool circulate the ball in front of them, waiting for the moment to spring forward on the counter. That approach paid dividends twice, with both equalisers coming from moves that began with quick recoveries in midfield.

Old Edwardians also showed excellent game management in the final ten minutes. Rather than sitting deep after making it 3-2, they kept the ball in the corners and forced Blackpool to chase, limiting the hosts to hopeful crosses in stoppage time. Blackpool will rue their failure to protect the lead twice, particularly after going 2-1 up early in the second half, but credit must go to Old Edwardians for their persistence and clinical finishing in the key moments.

Standout players

Alhaji Turay was the obvious match-winner for Old Edwardians, with two well-taken goals and a performance full of intelligent movement. Mohamed Fofanah was equally influential, not only for his equaliser but for his control of the midfield tempo and his work off the ball. For Mighty Blackpool, Abu Bakarr Kamara and Sorie Ibrahim Sesay both took their goals well, while the goalkeeper made several important saves to keep the score level at crucial moments. In the end, though, Turay’s late intervention proved the difference.

What the result means

The win gives Old Edwardians a valuable three points and lifts them into a more comfortable position in the Sierra Leone Premier League standings. For Mighty Blackpool, the defeat is a painful one, especially having led twice at home, and it leaves them searching for consistency in the coming weeks. The result also underlines how competitive the league can be, with fine margins deciding matches even when one side enjoys the greater share of possession. Both teams will now turn their attention to their next fixtures, with Old Edwardians looking to build on a statement away win and Blackpool determined to respond quickly.

• Competition: Sierra Leone Premier League
• Result: Mighty Blackpool 2-3 Old Edwardians
• Goals: Abu Bakarr Kamara 18’, Sorie Ibrahim Sesay 57’ (Mighty Blackpool); Alhaji Turay 33’, 84’, Mohamed Fofanah 71’ (Old Edwardians)
• Key performer: Alhaji Turay (Old Edwardians)