Match Report: Bangor Celtic 1-1 Seaford Rock United (*Bangor win 4-3 on pens)
LFA Junior Cup, First Round
Seaford made light of a three-division gap between the teams to push Bangor Celtic all the way, only to fall at the final hurdle.
It was the second week in a row that the men in navy were involved in a shoot-out, but whereas they got the better of Tolka Rovers in the Ryan Cup a week earlier, they didn’t get the breaks this time around and the hosts progressed.
After a couple of early half-chances for Bangor, the first clear opening fell to Seaford after a Steve Kane burst down the left. Andy Roe failed to connect with the cross and Christian Firth was unable to beat Stephen Carruth from close range.
The home side hit the front on 19 minutes through David Kennedy, who cracked a low shot into the far corner of the net after a loose ball fell his way at the edge of the box.
The Seaford equaliser late in the half owed a great deal to Ryan McEnroe, making his full debut. The midfielder forced a mistake out of a Bangor defender before whipping in a left-wing cross for Firth to direct an inch-perfect header past Carruth.
On a poor surface in Churchtown, it was the hosts who had the better of play in the second half, albeit without creating many clear opportunities. Kennedy was inches from netting his second from Kieron Murray’s pass, before substitute Thomas Reilly shot just wide.
At the other end, Sam Browne headed just wide from a Mike O'Neill cross as the full time whistle approached.
Both sides were running on empty in extra time, but it was Seaford who fashioned the best chance, in the very last minute as MJ Tierney nodded down at the back post for his fellow substitute Patryk Szafranski, but the big Pole couldn’t quite force the ball home.
Curruth made a fine save to keep out Firth’s spot kick, before Bangor’s John Johnston, Sam Howard, Michael Mougan and Thomas Reilly all made no mistake, meaning Seaford were eliminated when McEnroe - following a fine individual performance - aimed his effort wide of the post.
Seaford complete a trio of consecutive cup ties next week against Wicklow Rovers, and will be looking to putting that one to bed in regulation time....
Seaford: Oisin Geoghegan; Mike O'Neill, Gavin Walsh, Stephen Kelly; Fionn Lawlor, Sam Browne, Andy Roe (Patryk Szafranski, 79), Ryan McEnroe, Chris Monk, Steve Kane (MJ Tierney, 69), Christian Firth : Goal: Firth (45)
Bangor Celtic: Stephen Carruth, Michael Mougan, Sean Ralph, John Johnston, Mark McCarthy, Kieron Murray, David Kennedy, Jason Coleman, Lucas Costa (Thomas Reilly, 54), Dylan Reilly (Sam Howard, 70), Luke Devlin (Adlane Boulmeth, 89). Goal: Kennedy (20)
Good Shepherd, 22 September 2018
It was the second week in a row that the men in navy were involved in a shoot-out, but whereas they got the better of Tolka Rovers in the Ryan Cup a week earlier, they didn’t get the breaks this time around and the hosts progressed.
After a couple of early half-chances for Bangor, the first clear opening fell to Seaford after a Steve Kane burst down the left. Andy Roe failed to connect with the cross and Christian Firth was unable to beat Stephen Carruth from close range.
The home side hit the front on 19 minutes through David Kennedy, who cracked a low shot into the far corner of the net after a loose ball fell his way at the edge of the box.
The Seaford equaliser late in the half owed a great deal to Ryan McEnroe, making his full debut. The midfielder forced a mistake out of a Bangor defender before whipping in a left-wing cross for Firth to direct an inch-perfect header past Carruth.
On a poor surface in Churchtown, it was the hosts who had the better of play in the second half, albeit without creating many clear opportunities. Kennedy was inches from netting his second from Kieron Murray’s pass, before substitute Thomas Reilly shot just wide.
At the other end, Sam Browne headed just wide from a Mike O'Neill cross as the full time whistle approached.
Both sides were running on empty in extra time, but it was Seaford who fashioned the best chance, in the very last minute as MJ Tierney nodded down at the back post for his fellow substitute Patryk Szafranski, but the big Pole couldn’t quite force the ball home.
Curruth made a fine save to keep out Firth’s spot kick, before Bangor’s John Johnston, Sam Howard, Michael Mougan and Thomas Reilly all made no mistake, meaning Seaford were eliminated when McEnroe - following a fine individual performance - aimed his effort wide of the post.
Seaford complete a trio of consecutive cup ties next week against Wicklow Rovers, and will be looking to putting that one to bed in regulation time....
Seaford: Oisin Geoghegan; Mike O'Neill, Gavin Walsh, Stephen Kelly; Fionn Lawlor, Sam Browne, Andy Roe (Patryk Szafranski, 79), Ryan McEnroe, Chris Monk, Steve Kane (MJ Tierney, 69), Christian Firth : Goal: Firth (45)
Bangor Celtic: Stephen Carruth, Michael Mougan, Sean Ralph, John Johnston, Mark McCarthy, Kieron Murray, David Kennedy, Jason Coleman, Lucas Costa (Thomas Reilly, 54), Dylan Reilly (Sam Howard, 70), Luke Devlin (Adlane Boulmeth, 89). Goal: Kennedy (20)
Good Shepherd, 22 September 2018