Match Report: Newtown Rangers 1-0 Seaford Rock United
Noel Ryan Cup, Round One
Moving from the right wing to the left required oxygen tanks and team of sherpas
A gutsy display from a new-look Seaford team was in vain as Saturday Major side Newtown Rangers edged an extremely tightly contested match to progress in the first round of the Ryan Cup.
Manager Alan Burns decided to shuffle the pack after some very poor league form, with no fewer than five players making their first ever first-team appearance, and a sixth, Alan Brennan making his starting debut after a couple of brief cameos as substitute.
Despite the overhaul, there was no evidence of the four-division chasm between the two sides during an evenly matched opening period. The home side had vast superiority of physique, which they showcased in a number of meaty first-half challenges, but there was nothing in their general play that was worthy of their elevated place in league structure, with the exception of Shane Corrigan's incisive bursts down the left wing, and it was he who ultimately decided the tie.
After a scrappy opening 35 minutes, during which neither keeper was tested, Newtown's John Burke produced an acrobatic volley to meet a right-wing cross, but Dylan O'Reilly made a comfortable save. That seemed to spark a flurry of activity in both penalty areas, as Aaron O'Brien found Dean McLoughlin with a fine low pass, but his goal was disallowed for offside, and Burke missed a golden chance to open the scoring when he was found by Glenn Madden in acres of space, but shaked his effort wide.
At the other end, a superb cross from Brennan was met by James O'Neill's side-foot volley at the back post, but keeper Shane Davoren managed to push it wide to deny what seemed a certain goal.
In the second half, O'Neill went even closer to a debut goal, producing a beautifully measured volley to lob Davoren, only for the ball to clip the top of the crossbar with the goalie stranded.
Seaford went closer and closer. Skipper Paul Lydon met John Bannon's free kick with a glancing header but directed it inches wide, before O'Neill's sensational wingplay set up Caoimhin Fahy, only for Davoren to deny him his first ever Seaford goal with another fine block.
Rangers rallied, with Burke setting up Dean McLoughlin, who rounded O'Reilly but was denied by Steve Kane's sliding blocky as he attempted to roll the ball into the empty net.
But it was fitting that Corrigan, the game's outstanding player, made the breakthrough. Burke's shot rebounded off Bannon, and from the edge of the penalty area Corrigan produced a brilliant curling finish with his right foot, giving O'Reilly no chance.
Seaford contineud to apply pressure. From another Bannon delivery, Daniel Connell almost turned the ball into his own net, but Davoren managed to claw it away, and in the dying minutes, Fleet-footed winger Collie Dolan was denied what seemed to be a certain penalty, when he was clipped near the edge of the box, but the referee's view was obscured and he waved away the protests.
If there was any apprehension amidst the Seaford ranks at the prospect of facing a side from four leagues higher, it was dispelled by a brave and enterprising performance that certainly didn't merit the outcome. Burns will be heartened by several extremely encouraging displays from the newcomers in particular, and will hope the improvement in form can help rescue Seaford's faltering league campaign.
Seaford: D O'Reilly; S Kane, R Murray, C Fahy (M Kane, 85), J Bannon (P O'Fatharta, 80); A Finnegan, A Brennan, R O'Huiginn (R Scollard, 21), C Dolan; J O'Neill, P Lydon (c)
Newtown Rangers: S Davoren; N Davoren, D Morris, D Fahey, D Connell, A O'Brien, C Grogan, G Madden, J Burke, D McLoughlin, S Corrigan. Goal: S Corrigan (69)
Farrell Park, Kiltipper, 12 March 2016
Manager Alan Burns decided to shuffle the pack after some very poor league form, with no fewer than five players making their first ever first-team appearance, and a sixth, Alan Brennan making his starting debut after a couple of brief cameos as substitute.
Despite the overhaul, there was no evidence of the four-division chasm between the two sides during an evenly matched opening period. The home side had vast superiority of physique, which they showcased in a number of meaty first-half challenges, but there was nothing in their general play that was worthy of their elevated place in league structure, with the exception of Shane Corrigan's incisive bursts down the left wing, and it was he who ultimately decided the tie.
After a scrappy opening 35 minutes, during which neither keeper was tested, Newtown's John Burke produced an acrobatic volley to meet a right-wing cross, but Dylan O'Reilly made a comfortable save. That seemed to spark a flurry of activity in both penalty areas, as Aaron O'Brien found Dean McLoughlin with a fine low pass, but his goal was disallowed for offside, and Burke missed a golden chance to open the scoring when he was found by Glenn Madden in acres of space, but shaked his effort wide.
At the other end, a superb cross from Brennan was met by James O'Neill's side-foot volley at the back post, but keeper Shane Davoren managed to push it wide to deny what seemed a certain goal.
In the second half, O'Neill went even closer to a debut goal, producing a beautifully measured volley to lob Davoren, only for the ball to clip the top of the crossbar with the goalie stranded.
Seaford went closer and closer. Skipper Paul Lydon met John Bannon's free kick with a glancing header but directed it inches wide, before O'Neill's sensational wingplay set up Caoimhin Fahy, only for Davoren to deny him his first ever Seaford goal with another fine block.
Rangers rallied, with Burke setting up Dean McLoughlin, who rounded O'Reilly but was denied by Steve Kane's sliding blocky as he attempted to roll the ball into the empty net.
But it was fitting that Corrigan, the game's outstanding player, made the breakthrough. Burke's shot rebounded off Bannon, and from the edge of the penalty area Corrigan produced a brilliant curling finish with his right foot, giving O'Reilly no chance.
Seaford contineud to apply pressure. From another Bannon delivery, Daniel Connell almost turned the ball into his own net, but Davoren managed to claw it away, and in the dying minutes, Fleet-footed winger Collie Dolan was denied what seemed to be a certain penalty, when he was clipped near the edge of the box, but the referee's view was obscured and he waved away the protests.
If there was any apprehension amidst the Seaford ranks at the prospect of facing a side from four leagues higher, it was dispelled by a brave and enterprising performance that certainly didn't merit the outcome. Burns will be heartened by several extremely encouraging displays from the newcomers in particular, and will hope the improvement in form can help rescue Seaford's faltering league campaign.
Seaford: D O'Reilly; S Kane, R Murray, C Fahy (M Kane, 85), J Bannon (P O'Fatharta, 80); A Finnegan, A Brennan, R O'Huiginn (R Scollard, 21), C Dolan; J O'Neill, P Lydon (c)
Newtown Rangers: S Davoren; N Davoren, D Morris, D Fahey, D Connell, A O'Brien, C Grogan, G Madden, J Burke, D McLoughlin, S Corrigan. Goal: S Corrigan (69)
Farrell Park, Kiltipper, 12 March 2016