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​It was another season of frustration and unfulfilled potential in Division 3 for Seaford, who enjoyed a strong second half to the season after a difficult start, to pull well clear of the relegation battle, but ultimately had to settle for a mid-table finish.
The start of the season couldn't have been tougher, with four matches in the space ten days, the first three of which were against the three clubs who would eventually pull well clear of the rest of the division to seal the promotion spots. Seaford were comfortably beaten by each of Kill Celtic and Clontarf, but did manage a dramatic 1-0 win over AIB courtesy of Tony Bennett's 89th winner. But it would be some time before Seaford enjoyed another win in the league, as a series of frustrating draws and heavy defeats saw them sink dangerously close to the foot of the table. The victory, when it finally came over Knockmitten United in November, was dramatic, as Seaford equalised three times at Rockfield Park before Chris Sastre volleyed home the winner. However, three consecutive defeats during the rest of November put Seaford right back in the soup. The fixture list offered some consolation, as did the knowledge that the team had played within itself during the opening months, struggling for consistency in both selection and performances. A superb performance away at Blessington proved a turning point, centre back Stephen Kelly heading two in a 3-0 win, before an equally dominant display produced the same scoreline at Ratoath Harps, to give Seaford some breathing space. The expanded Vere Deane Cup offered a shot at silverware, but narrow 2-1 defeats against Blessington and Knockmitten condemned Seaford to a group-stage elimination despite impressive wins over Mid-Sutton and Cloghertown United. The league campaign resumed in April, as Seaford made it five wins from six to complete the season. The start of that month's matches was unquestionably striker Carl Doyle, who bagged a hat-trick against Blessington in his first start for three years, before adding two more off the bench at home to Mid Sutton and ending as the seconds' top goalscorer with another brace, in a famous end-of-season win over title-chasing Kill Celtic, sealed by MJ Tierney's stunning 94th minute free-kick. Results 2016/17 ​
Statistics 2016/17
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