Match Report: Seaford Rock United 3-2 Leixlip United
LSL Sat Major 1c
Rory O'Huiginn came off the bench to rescue the firsts from disaster against Major 1C strugglers Leixlip United.
After a dominant first half display, during which Michael O'Neill had headed the first side in front, any outcome other than a home win had seemed unthinkable. But a desperately sloppy second half performance almost cost Seaford dearly, as Leixlip hit the front, before the man they call Riz Roz Mahoz produced two moments of eely brilliance to snatch the win.
Seaford skipper O'Neill put the navy blues in front in the 15th minutes with a glancing header off the post, converting Stephen Faherty's cross, and the visitors were largely camped in their own defensive third for the rest of the half. James O'Neill was denied his first Seaford goal when his lob was ruled out for offside, before debutant Tony Bennett headed over from another great Faherty cross. Collie Dolan dispossessed Ciaran Walsh and burst forward to feed Dave Devaney, who was denied by an astonishing save by Sean Muddiman. The Kildare men offered almost nothing in response, with Flory Tunzola firing their only shot on target straight at Eoin English.
But Seaford let the bottom-placed side back into the game with a dreadful start to the second half. Vinny Dalton's free kick was headed towards goal, forcing English into a brilliant left-handed save, only for Walsh to tap-in the rebound.
Seaford seemed certain to regain the advantage when Dolan nicked the ball past Muddiman to set up Devaney, only for Leixlip centre back Colly MacManus to save the day with an astonishing block.
And it got even worse for the hosts on the hour. Muddiman's long punt forward seemed to offer little threat, but Steve Kane misjudged it, the ball bouncing off the hapless fullback's back, wrong-footing English and allowing Dalton to slide in ahead of Robbie Murray to prod home.
The Seaford onslaught began. Dolan was the architect of most of the best moves, but was also guilty of wayward finishing on accasion, blazing Bennett's square ball over the top before firing at Muddiman from Faherty's lay-nn.
On 73 minutes came the breakthrough as two subs combined. Adam Finnegan showed composure to ship a precise ball into O'Huiginn, who controlled the ball on his chest and pirouettted, eel-like, on the spot in the same movement before slotting the ball past Muddiman. Moments later he was at it again, this time pouncing on Devaney's blocked shot to spin again in the area and convert from close range for 2-1.
Leixlip had little to offer in reply, with Dolan coming closest to a further goal, toe-poking the ball againt the cross bar after Mahoz had again caused twirly mischief in the Leixlip box.
Another disappointing display from Seaford, but at least it bought to an end a four-game winless streak. They may have slipped out of the promotion picture somewhat, but with fixtures coming thick and fast during April, the three points at least offeres some platform to build on.
Seaford: E English; S Kane, R Murray (R O'Huiginn 61), J Bannon; P Costello; M O'Neill (c) (A Finnegan, 43) D Devaney, S Faherty, J O'Neill; C Dolan, T Bennett. Goals: M O'Neill (15), R O'Huiginn (73, 75)
Leixlip United: S Muddiman, N O'Reilly, J Sweeny, D Allen, C McManus, S Harlow, V Dalton, C Walsh, R Barry, K Weldon, F Tunzola (J Doyle, 90)
Rpckfield Park, 2 April 2016
After a dominant first half display, during which Michael O'Neill had headed the first side in front, any outcome other than a home win had seemed unthinkable. But a desperately sloppy second half performance almost cost Seaford dearly, as Leixlip hit the front, before the man they call Riz Roz Mahoz produced two moments of eely brilliance to snatch the win.
Seaford skipper O'Neill put the navy blues in front in the 15th minutes with a glancing header off the post, converting Stephen Faherty's cross, and the visitors were largely camped in their own defensive third for the rest of the half. James O'Neill was denied his first Seaford goal when his lob was ruled out for offside, before debutant Tony Bennett headed over from another great Faherty cross. Collie Dolan dispossessed Ciaran Walsh and burst forward to feed Dave Devaney, who was denied by an astonishing save by Sean Muddiman. The Kildare men offered almost nothing in response, with Flory Tunzola firing their only shot on target straight at Eoin English.
But Seaford let the bottom-placed side back into the game with a dreadful start to the second half. Vinny Dalton's free kick was headed towards goal, forcing English into a brilliant left-handed save, only for Walsh to tap-in the rebound.
Seaford seemed certain to regain the advantage when Dolan nicked the ball past Muddiman to set up Devaney, only for Leixlip centre back Colly MacManus to save the day with an astonishing block.
And it got even worse for the hosts on the hour. Muddiman's long punt forward seemed to offer little threat, but Steve Kane misjudged it, the ball bouncing off the hapless fullback's back, wrong-footing English and allowing Dalton to slide in ahead of Robbie Murray to prod home.
The Seaford onslaught began. Dolan was the architect of most of the best moves, but was also guilty of wayward finishing on accasion, blazing Bennett's square ball over the top before firing at Muddiman from Faherty's lay-nn.
On 73 minutes came the breakthrough as two subs combined. Adam Finnegan showed composure to ship a precise ball into O'Huiginn, who controlled the ball on his chest and pirouettted, eel-like, on the spot in the same movement before slotting the ball past Muddiman. Moments later he was at it again, this time pouncing on Devaney's blocked shot to spin again in the area and convert from close range for 2-1.
Leixlip had little to offer in reply, with Dolan coming closest to a further goal, toe-poking the ball againt the cross bar after Mahoz had again caused twirly mischief in the Leixlip box.
Another disappointing display from Seaford, but at least it bought to an end a four-game winless streak. They may have slipped out of the promotion picture somewhat, but with fixtures coming thick and fast during April, the three points at least offeres some platform to build on.
Seaford: E English; S Kane, R Murray (R O'Huiginn 61), J Bannon; P Costello; M O'Neill (c) (A Finnegan, 43) D Devaney, S Faherty, J O'Neill; C Dolan, T Bennett. Goals: M O'Neill (15), R O'Huiginn (73, 75)
Leixlip United: S Muddiman, N O'Reilly, J Sweeny, D Allen, C McManus, S Harlow, V Dalton, C Walsh, R Barry, K Weldon, F Tunzola (J Doyle, 90)
Rpckfield Park, 2 April 2016