Match Report: Seaford Rock United 1-1 Balbriggan
LSL Saturday Division 3
The seconds secured a good point at home to title-chasing Balbriggan with a dogged performance at Rockfield Park.
Having secured a win at DCU a week earlier, the only change to the eleven named by Tony Bennett save David Higgins start at the base of the midfield in a revamped 4-5-1 formation, which served the home side well during an opening period when Balbriggan largely controlled possession and exerted plenty of pressure.
Seaford relied on goalkeeper Simon McGinty several times, who made a series of one-on-one saves to deny what had been a free-scoring Balbriggan attack.
The home side held out until the dying moments of the first half, when two forward managed to get in behind the white defence, and while they initially made a meal of what should have been a simple tap-in, they managed to recover the ball to convert from close range at the second attempt.
The second half saw Seaford come out of their shell more, offering more of a goalscoring threat. Higgins was unlucky not to net a spectacular equaliser when he curled just over with a brilliant left-footed effort from long range. But the men in white have failed to score only once in the past two seasons, comprising some 34 matches, and the goal when it came was worth the wait.
On 72 minutes, from substitution Paidi O'Fatharta's assist, midfielder David Devaney rolled back the years by uncorking a stunning long-range strike to level it at 1-1.
Now Seaford were in the mood for a winner, breaking forward in numbers on the counter, with even fullback Robbie Murray finding himself with a decent chance, only to fire just wide.
However neither side was able to claim all three points, the draw keeping Seaford in fifth place in the Division 3 table.
Seaford: Simon McGinty; Shane Lauritsch, Robbie Murray, Darren Grealish, Adam FInnegan, David Higgins, Gavin Walsh (Paidi O'Fatharta, 60), David Devaney (Stevie Murphy, 74), Ryan Scollard Conan Murphy, (Richie Mulholland, 55), Peter Tierney (Eoin Mahon, 80) .. Goals: Devaney (72)
Rockfield Park, 4 November 2017
Having secured a win at DCU a week earlier, the only change to the eleven named by Tony Bennett save David Higgins start at the base of the midfield in a revamped 4-5-1 formation, which served the home side well during an opening period when Balbriggan largely controlled possession and exerted plenty of pressure.
Seaford relied on goalkeeper Simon McGinty several times, who made a series of one-on-one saves to deny what had been a free-scoring Balbriggan attack.
The home side held out until the dying moments of the first half, when two forward managed to get in behind the white defence, and while they initially made a meal of what should have been a simple tap-in, they managed to recover the ball to convert from close range at the second attempt.
The second half saw Seaford come out of their shell more, offering more of a goalscoring threat. Higgins was unlucky not to net a spectacular equaliser when he curled just over with a brilliant left-footed effort from long range. But the men in white have failed to score only once in the past two seasons, comprising some 34 matches, and the goal when it came was worth the wait.
On 72 minutes, from substitution Paidi O'Fatharta's assist, midfielder David Devaney rolled back the years by uncorking a stunning long-range strike to level it at 1-1.
Now Seaford were in the mood for a winner, breaking forward in numbers on the counter, with even fullback Robbie Murray finding himself with a decent chance, only to fire just wide.
However neither side was able to claim all three points, the draw keeping Seaford in fifth place in the Division 3 table.
Seaford: Simon McGinty; Shane Lauritsch, Robbie Murray, Darren Grealish, Adam FInnegan, David Higgins, Gavin Walsh (Paidi O'Fatharta, 60), David Devaney (Stevie Murphy, 74), Ryan Scollard Conan Murphy, (Richie Mulholland, 55), Peter Tierney (Eoin Mahon, 80) .. Goals: Devaney (72)
Rockfield Park, 4 November 2017