Match Report: Leicester Celtic 2-2 Seaford Rock United
LSL Major 1A
Seaford had a frustrating evening, having secured what they thought would be a deserved late winner, only to concede an even later equaliser.
The first half was a scrappy affair with neither side mustering much fluency in their play before exchanging goals shortly before half time. The Penguins largely controlled the second half, seeing a string of chances to begging before the late drama unfolded on a miserable evening in Rathfarnham
The opening half hour was low on goalmouth action, with Alex Smirnoff the first to test either keeper, but he failed to get much purchase on his curling effort and it was a comfortable catch by Mark Lew. But at the other end, Neil Howarth was forced into a breathtaking reflex stop to deny Kevin Miley, who had been set up by Paul Egan. It was in vain, however, as moments later Egan headed home following a Graeme Buckley corner to give Leicester the lead.
But Seaford hit back on the stroke of half time with a brilliantly worked goal. It began with a stunning piece of control near the halfway line by Harry Crowe, picking the ball out of the night sky before laying off to Darragh Connolly,. Connolly seared through the whites' defence before teeing up Alex Smirnoff, who showed composure to sit the keeper down with an extra touch before tapping home.
Leicester almost retook the lead straight after the break when Miley's shot clipped a post but from then Seaford took control of the game. Crowe curled a left-footed effort inches wide, and was then denied by Isaac Kelly's brilliant intervention, deflecting the ball just wide. Now moved from the wing to a central role, Connolly was running riot, and it was from his cross to the back=post that Mike O'Neill was within a toenail's width of converting, bursting forward from fullback. He later laid in both Smirnoff and Crowe with slide-rule passes only for defenders to intervene, and Al Kennedy had a golden opportunity but volleyed over from 12 yards.
The goal, when it came, was a familiar combination: MJ Tierney's whipped corner met by a bullet header from Robbie Creevy, but Seaford were unable to hang on, and as Leicester piled almost their entire team into the Seaford goalmouth for an injury-time corner, John Behan was able to get free at the back post and nod the ball over the line despite Howarth's desperate efforts to claw it away.
Seaford return to cup action for the next couple of weeks, taking at least some consolation from staying unbeaten during their run of four consecutive away matches.
Seaford: Neil Howarth, Mike O'Neill , Fionn Lawlor (Jim Nolan, 81), Stephen Kelly, Cian McGuinness, Sam Browne (David Higgins, 76) Robbie Creevy (Ian Nolan, 88), Al Kennedy, Alex Smirnoff (MJ Tierney, 78), Darragh Connolly, Harry Crowe . Goals: Smirnoff (44), Creevy (86)
Leicester Celtic: Mark Lew, John Behan, Isaac Kelly, Ian McNamee, Nuno Monteiro, Paddy Harmon (Paddy McDonald, 56), Sean Calllis, Mick Cooke, Kevin Miley (Bill O'Cleirigh, 75), Graeme Buckley, Paul Egan. Goals: Egan (38) Behan (90+1)
Damien Duff Park, 22 November 2019
The first half was a scrappy affair with neither side mustering much fluency in their play before exchanging goals shortly before half time. The Penguins largely controlled the second half, seeing a string of chances to begging before the late drama unfolded on a miserable evening in Rathfarnham
The opening half hour was low on goalmouth action, with Alex Smirnoff the first to test either keeper, but he failed to get much purchase on his curling effort and it was a comfortable catch by Mark Lew. But at the other end, Neil Howarth was forced into a breathtaking reflex stop to deny Kevin Miley, who had been set up by Paul Egan. It was in vain, however, as moments later Egan headed home following a Graeme Buckley corner to give Leicester the lead.
But Seaford hit back on the stroke of half time with a brilliantly worked goal. It began with a stunning piece of control near the halfway line by Harry Crowe, picking the ball out of the night sky before laying off to Darragh Connolly,. Connolly seared through the whites' defence before teeing up Alex Smirnoff, who showed composure to sit the keeper down with an extra touch before tapping home.
Leicester almost retook the lead straight after the break when Miley's shot clipped a post but from then Seaford took control of the game. Crowe curled a left-footed effort inches wide, and was then denied by Isaac Kelly's brilliant intervention, deflecting the ball just wide. Now moved from the wing to a central role, Connolly was running riot, and it was from his cross to the back=post that Mike O'Neill was within a toenail's width of converting, bursting forward from fullback. He later laid in both Smirnoff and Crowe with slide-rule passes only for defenders to intervene, and Al Kennedy had a golden opportunity but volleyed over from 12 yards.
The goal, when it came, was a familiar combination: MJ Tierney's whipped corner met by a bullet header from Robbie Creevy, but Seaford were unable to hang on, and as Leicester piled almost their entire team into the Seaford goalmouth for an injury-time corner, John Behan was able to get free at the back post and nod the ball over the line despite Howarth's desperate efforts to claw it away.
Seaford return to cup action for the next couple of weeks, taking at least some consolation from staying unbeaten during their run of four consecutive away matches.
Seaford: Neil Howarth, Mike O'Neill , Fionn Lawlor (Jim Nolan, 81), Stephen Kelly, Cian McGuinness, Sam Browne (David Higgins, 76) Robbie Creevy (Ian Nolan, 88), Al Kennedy, Alex Smirnoff (MJ Tierney, 78), Darragh Connolly, Harry Crowe . Goals: Smirnoff (44), Creevy (86)
Leicester Celtic: Mark Lew, John Behan, Isaac Kelly, Ian McNamee, Nuno Monteiro, Paddy Harmon (Paddy McDonald, 56), Sean Calllis, Mick Cooke, Kevin Miley (Bill O'Cleirigh, 75), Graeme Buckley, Paul Egan. Goals: Egan (38) Behan (90+1)
Damien Duff Park, 22 November 2019