Match Report: St Francis 3-3 Seaford

LSL Major 1

Ten-man Seaford fell just short of claiming a famous win to open their season, conceding a stoppage-time equaliser in a thrilling clash in Baldonnell.

Against a highly talented St Francis side, the Penguins brought their springtime form into the new campaign, making a lively start and almost opening the scoring inside three minutes, when Michael Akingbade's pinpoint chipped cross found  Conor Fennell at the back post but the winger volleyed just wide.

Both keepers were forced into action midway though the half as , Oisin Geoghegan, made a smart low stop to keep out Nathan O'Neill before Ben Kelly tested Darragh Fitzgerald with a curler at the other end.

The hosts took control the half as it wore on , with Luke Maguire Neville firing inches past the post after twisting and turning in the area, but it was Seaford who hit the front on the stroke of half time as Sam Browne diverted Craig Conlon's whipped cross into the net.

St Francis levelled straight after the break as dangerman Owen Meisonnave danced along the by-line before squaring for O'Neill to convert, but the visitors restored their advantage on 51 when Akingbade was teed up by Fionn Nally and finished in style. 

It was dreamland for the Penguins when Kelly bundled home to make it 3-1 from another Conlon delivery., but the Francis fightback was inevitable. They pulled one back though Cian Foley after another Meuinneve assist , before Darragh Roche was dismissed. for two quick yellow cards, leaving Seaford clinging on.

It looked like their rearguard action had secured the points until the 92nd minute when Kyle Brady converted from close range amid offside appeals.to nick a share of the spoils.

Seafprd: 1 Oisin Geoghegan, 3 Darragh Roche, 6 Zitian Xiang, 4 Craig Conlon, 19 Sam Browne, 5 Al Kennedy, 16 Ben Kelly (17 Niall Holleran 90 + 3),8 Garrett Connolly (15 Brian Murphy, 78),13 Fionn Nally (11 Jamie McCaul, 86), 7 Conor Fennell (9 Ryan Scollard, 61), 10 Michael Akingbade (14 Jack Keegan, 78)

St Francis: 1 Darragh Fitzgerald; 2 Alex Merriman; 3 Nathan O'Neill; 4 Finn O'Sullivan; 5 Callum Behan; 6 Prince Nganga; 7 Owen Meisonnave; 8 Sean Donohoe; 9 Larry Johnson; 10 Luke Maguire Neville; 11 Brian Mcloughlin. Subs: 12 David Toolan; 13 Jake O'Neill; 14 Luke Cummins; 15 Cian Foley; 16 Tomasz Gwizdala; 17 Kyle Brady; 18 Abudus Samad Adelakun