Match Report: Columbas Rovers 4-0 Seaford Rock United
LSL Saturday Major 1A
Seaford were routed by a clinical Columbas Rovers outfit, shattering their unbeaten start to the season.
If the 4-0 scoreline somewhat flattered the hosts, Seaford could scarcely argue they deserved much from the match, as their midfield passing, so impressive in the opening two matches, broke down badly, and they were ruthlessly picked off by some impressive finishing.
The Northsiders took the lead with the very first effort of the match on 13 minutes, when Brian Finnegan's pot-shot flew into the roof of the net from 20 yards, but Seaford found a foothold in the game and enjoyed some good play. Their best first half opportunity fell to Chris Monk, who was put clean through by Mike O'Neill but was denied by a fine saving tackle as he tried to apply the finish, the ball deflecting wide.
Instead, it was Columbas who doubled their lead, when a Tadgh McDonald free kick was nodded back across goal by Mike Halley for James Cronin to head in from close range.
Seaford's best spell in the game was immediately after half time, when they saw two brilliant chances go begging. First, Monk did brilliantly to evade a defender near the corner flag, squaring for O'Neill, but he was unable to hit the target from 15 yards, and sppm afterwards Darragh Connolly led a rapid counter-attack, laying in Harry Crowe, but the striker's first touch forced him slightly wide, and from a tight angle his low shot clipped the far post.
Unable to take advantage of their momentum, the Penguins were instead caught by a sucker-punch, as with his first touch after coming on, Paul McKeown saw his attempted cross loop over Richie Sayers and drop into the far corner, and the hosts added a late fourth courtesy of a powerful 20 yard drive from another sub, Chris Burke..
Seaford: Richie Sayers , Steve Kane (Stephen Kelly, 63), Gavin Walsh (Paul Tansey, 63), Fionn Lawlor, Cian McGuinness , Sam Browne, Mike O'Neill, (Peter Tierney, 63) , Chris Monk, Darragh Connolly , Alex Smirnoff (Andy Roe, 76),. Harry Crowe.
Columbas Rovers: Andrew Newbanks, Michael McLoughlin, Tadgh McDonald, Mike Halley, Aaron McFadden, Adam Lawlor, James Cronin (Chris Burke, 78), Brian Finnegan (Paul McKeown, 56), David Browne (Niall Tormey, 59), Dominic McMahon, Jay Gilchrist (Gary Forde, 63)
ALSAA, 26 August 2019
If the 4-0 scoreline somewhat flattered the hosts, Seaford could scarcely argue they deserved much from the match, as their midfield passing, so impressive in the opening two matches, broke down badly, and they were ruthlessly picked off by some impressive finishing.
The Northsiders took the lead with the very first effort of the match on 13 minutes, when Brian Finnegan's pot-shot flew into the roof of the net from 20 yards, but Seaford found a foothold in the game and enjoyed some good play. Their best first half opportunity fell to Chris Monk, who was put clean through by Mike O'Neill but was denied by a fine saving tackle as he tried to apply the finish, the ball deflecting wide.
Instead, it was Columbas who doubled their lead, when a Tadgh McDonald free kick was nodded back across goal by Mike Halley for James Cronin to head in from close range.
Seaford's best spell in the game was immediately after half time, when they saw two brilliant chances go begging. First, Monk did brilliantly to evade a defender near the corner flag, squaring for O'Neill, but he was unable to hit the target from 15 yards, and sppm afterwards Darragh Connolly led a rapid counter-attack, laying in Harry Crowe, but the striker's first touch forced him slightly wide, and from a tight angle his low shot clipped the far post.
Unable to take advantage of their momentum, the Penguins were instead caught by a sucker-punch, as with his first touch after coming on, Paul McKeown saw his attempted cross loop over Richie Sayers and drop into the far corner, and the hosts added a late fourth courtesy of a powerful 20 yard drive from another sub, Chris Burke..
Seaford: Richie Sayers , Steve Kane (Stephen Kelly, 63), Gavin Walsh (Paul Tansey, 63), Fionn Lawlor, Cian McGuinness , Sam Browne, Mike O'Neill, (Peter Tierney, 63) , Chris Monk, Darragh Connolly , Alex Smirnoff (Andy Roe, 76),. Harry Crowe.
Columbas Rovers: Andrew Newbanks, Michael McLoughlin, Tadgh McDonald, Mike Halley, Aaron McFadden, Adam Lawlor, James Cronin (Chris Burke, 78), Brian Finnegan (Paul McKeown, 56), David Browne (Niall Tormey, 59), Dominic McMahon, Jay Gilchrist (Gary Forde, 63)
ALSAA, 26 August 2019