Match Report: Seaford Rock United 3-2 Clontarf
LSL Sat Major 1C
Michael O'Neill slots home a late penalty to seal the points
The firsts got back on the horse after the previous weekend's calamity with an somewhat fortunate home win against Clontarf, showing plenty of determination to take the three points in spite of a below-par second half display.
It was a nervy start to the game for the home side. After just three minutes, Eoin English raced off his line to deny Jay Hester who was looking to pounce on Paddy Costello's undercooked backpass But he could do nothing about Clontarf's superb opening goal on six minutes, as Jesper Frise met Michael Winterton's floated cross with a sensational downward header into the far corner.
Seaford recovered from that early setback to get a grip on the match. Jimmy Hussey, making his home debut, found Collie Dolan down the left wing, and the diminutive striker produced a flash of magic to evade his marker, only for Paul Lydon to divert his square ball just wide.
But Lydon made no mistake on 23 minutes, meeting Darragh Connolly's dinked cross with a towering header, which keeper Devin Connolly' was unable to claw away from the top corner.
Dolan was denied what seemed a clear penalty late in the half, before the turnaround was completed when he pounced on the Clontarf goalie's poor clearance, feeding Seaford winger Connolly, who slotted the ball home effortlessly .
There was a frantic opening to the second half, with Dolan shooting wide from Mark Cullen's stylish reverse pass, before Clontarf made it 2-2 in controversial circumstances. English seemed to be obstructed by Paul Flood as he attempted to claim a high ball, and Flood's header was nodded into the net by the Clontarf striker.
Moments later, Clontarf had a brilliant chance to take the lead, only for English made a smart stop to deny Hester, before a Mike O'Neill was denied in spectacular fashion by Connolly, who pushed his 20-yard drive onto the post.
Seaford laboured at times during the second spell, with English yet again coming to the rescue by parrying Hester's powerful striker on 70 minutes, with Jim Nolan bundling the rebound clear, before referee Les Adamczak gave the home side a golden chance to take the points.
Clontarf failed to deal with Dave Devaney's corner, and as Dolan returned the ball to the danger area, Mark Cullen was cleaned out by the Clontarf keeper, and O'Neill slotted away the resulting spot kick for his third of the season.
In truth, for all their impressive first half play Seaford forewent the initiative after the break and Clontarf can feel aggrieved not to have left Blackrock with at least a point. But after the trauma of the previous Saturday, three points and a return to the promotion spots represent a good afternoon's work for Alan Burns's side.
Seaford: E English; D Devaney, J Nolan, C Fahy (J Bannon, 89), P Costello; J Hussey, M O'Neill (c), M Cullen, D Connolly (R O'Huiginn, 76); C Dolan (S Kane, 82), P Lydon. Goals: P Lydon (23), D Connolly (43), M O'Neill (pen, 78)
Rockfield Park - 31 October 2015
It was a nervy start to the game for the home side. After just three minutes, Eoin English raced off his line to deny Jay Hester who was looking to pounce on Paddy Costello's undercooked backpass But he could do nothing about Clontarf's superb opening goal on six minutes, as Jesper Frise met Michael Winterton's floated cross with a sensational downward header into the far corner.
Seaford recovered from that early setback to get a grip on the match. Jimmy Hussey, making his home debut, found Collie Dolan down the left wing, and the diminutive striker produced a flash of magic to evade his marker, only for Paul Lydon to divert his square ball just wide.
But Lydon made no mistake on 23 minutes, meeting Darragh Connolly's dinked cross with a towering header, which keeper Devin Connolly' was unable to claw away from the top corner.
Dolan was denied what seemed a clear penalty late in the half, before the turnaround was completed when he pounced on the Clontarf goalie's poor clearance, feeding Seaford winger Connolly, who slotted the ball home effortlessly .
There was a frantic opening to the second half, with Dolan shooting wide from Mark Cullen's stylish reverse pass, before Clontarf made it 2-2 in controversial circumstances. English seemed to be obstructed by Paul Flood as he attempted to claim a high ball, and Flood's header was nodded into the net by the Clontarf striker.
Moments later, Clontarf had a brilliant chance to take the lead, only for English made a smart stop to deny Hester, before a Mike O'Neill was denied in spectacular fashion by Connolly, who pushed his 20-yard drive onto the post.
Seaford laboured at times during the second spell, with English yet again coming to the rescue by parrying Hester's powerful striker on 70 minutes, with Jim Nolan bundling the rebound clear, before referee Les Adamczak gave the home side a golden chance to take the points.
Clontarf failed to deal with Dave Devaney's corner, and as Dolan returned the ball to the danger area, Mark Cullen was cleaned out by the Clontarf keeper, and O'Neill slotted away the resulting spot kick for his third of the season.
In truth, for all their impressive first half play Seaford forewent the initiative after the break and Clontarf can feel aggrieved not to have left Blackrock with at least a point. But after the trauma of the previous Saturday, three points and a return to the promotion spots represent a good afternoon's work for Alan Burns's side.
Seaford: E English; D Devaney, J Nolan, C Fahy (J Bannon, 89), P Costello; J Hussey, M O'Neill (c), M Cullen, D Connolly (R O'Huiginn, 76); C Dolan (S Kane, 82), P Lydon. Goals: P Lydon (23), D Connolly (43), M O'Neill (pen, 78)
Rockfield Park - 31 October 2015