Match Report: Seaford Rock United 2-2 Hartstown Huntstown
LSL Saturday Major 1B
Seaford's wait for a first win of the Major 1B campaign goes on after they conceded an injury time equaliser at home to Hartstown Huntstown.
It was a bitter pill to swallow for John Downes's men, who had enjoyed by far the better of the first half, only to lose impetus after the break, and eventually succomb to the visitors' pressure.
The game had a lively opening with chances at both ends duirng the early exchanges. Seaford keeper Luke Ginnell was drawn into action inside five minutes, parrying to his right after Jarvis Doolin met Ciaran Murray’s long throw with a downward header, and Ginnell also denied Simon Eglinton’s left footed drive with a similar stop.
In between, Andy Roe had tested Alex Molloy st the other end with a rasping shot from 30 yards, before Seaford were centimetres from taking the lead, Darragh Connolly spinning at the edge of the and curling a sublime shot which rebounded off the angle of post and bar, them off Molloy’s back as he dived in vain, but somehow bounced wide of the post rather than inside it.
Instead, it was Hartstown ahknhit the front on 14 minutes. Ange Wanzio’s volleyed ball forward put Murray clean through, and when he was taken down by Steve Kane’s despairing tackle, ref Les Adamczak correctly pointed to the spot, allowing Doolin to slot home.
But Seaford didn’t have to wait long for a penalty of their own, as David Walsh chopped down Connolly in the box. Roe hit the post, but Chris Monk managed to steer home the rebound.
The turnaround was complete on 28 minutes as Monk managed to keep the ball alive from a Seaford corner, volleying across goal for Kohei Masaki to nod home from close range.
Seaford had hit their stride now and were dominating the match, with Monk’s barnstroming runs and the clever link-up play of Masaki standing out, but the blues couldn’t add to their lead and Hartstown, with the wind at their backs, took control of the match on the second period.
Chances were a premium at both ends, however, with Seaford’s central defensive partnership of Fionn Lawlor and Fionn Geoghegan outstanding in repelling the red-and-Black attacks, whilst Seaford were unable to convert numerous breakaways into clear opportunities .
Twice in the final ten minutes, Ginnell came to the home side’s rescue , first blocking with his feet after Gary Johnson had met Aidan Lyons’s corner from point-blank range, before making a brilliant save at full stretch after Murray had tried to flick the ball past him first time.
But Seaford couldn’t hold out, as sub Nicky Murphy managed to squeeze the ball in at Ginnell’s near lost from a tight angle, from Johnson’s assist, to save Hartstown’s unbeaten run - and extend Seaford’s winless one.
Seaford: Luke Ginnell; Steve Kane (Jim Nolan, 58), Ian Nolan, Fionn Lawlor, Fionn Geoghegan, Paul Lydon (David Mackey, 83), Andy Roe, Paul Tansey, Chris Monk, Darragh Connolly (Garrett Connolly, 76), Kohei Masaki (Conor Tobin, 89). Goals: Monk (21) Masaki (28)
Hartstown Huntstown: Alex Molloy, Alan Lyons (Martin Byrne, 68), Gavin Flaherty, Ange Wanzio, Vincent McDermott, Gary Johnson, Simon Eglinton, Jarvis Doolin (Nicky Murphy, 58), Ciaran Murray, Leon Sutcliffe (Aidan Lyons, 58), David Walsh. Goals: Doolin (14 pen), Murphy (90+2)
Rockfield Park, 28 October 2017
It was a bitter pill to swallow for John Downes's men, who had enjoyed by far the better of the first half, only to lose impetus after the break, and eventually succomb to the visitors' pressure.
The game had a lively opening with chances at both ends duirng the early exchanges. Seaford keeper Luke Ginnell was drawn into action inside five minutes, parrying to his right after Jarvis Doolin met Ciaran Murray’s long throw with a downward header, and Ginnell also denied Simon Eglinton’s left footed drive with a similar stop.
In between, Andy Roe had tested Alex Molloy st the other end with a rasping shot from 30 yards, before Seaford were centimetres from taking the lead, Darragh Connolly spinning at the edge of the and curling a sublime shot which rebounded off the angle of post and bar, them off Molloy’s back as he dived in vain, but somehow bounced wide of the post rather than inside it.
Instead, it was Hartstown ahknhit the front on 14 minutes. Ange Wanzio’s volleyed ball forward put Murray clean through, and when he was taken down by Steve Kane’s despairing tackle, ref Les Adamczak correctly pointed to the spot, allowing Doolin to slot home.
But Seaford didn’t have to wait long for a penalty of their own, as David Walsh chopped down Connolly in the box. Roe hit the post, but Chris Monk managed to steer home the rebound.
The turnaround was complete on 28 minutes as Monk managed to keep the ball alive from a Seaford corner, volleying across goal for Kohei Masaki to nod home from close range.
Seaford had hit their stride now and were dominating the match, with Monk’s barnstroming runs and the clever link-up play of Masaki standing out, but the blues couldn’t add to their lead and Hartstown, with the wind at their backs, took control of the match on the second period.
Chances were a premium at both ends, however, with Seaford’s central defensive partnership of Fionn Lawlor and Fionn Geoghegan outstanding in repelling the red-and-Black attacks, whilst Seaford were unable to convert numerous breakaways into clear opportunities .
Twice in the final ten minutes, Ginnell came to the home side’s rescue , first blocking with his feet after Gary Johnson had met Aidan Lyons’s corner from point-blank range, before making a brilliant save at full stretch after Murray had tried to flick the ball past him first time.
But Seaford couldn’t hold out, as sub Nicky Murphy managed to squeeze the ball in at Ginnell’s near lost from a tight angle, from Johnson’s assist, to save Hartstown’s unbeaten run - and extend Seaford’s winless one.
Seaford: Luke Ginnell; Steve Kane (Jim Nolan, 58), Ian Nolan, Fionn Lawlor, Fionn Geoghegan, Paul Lydon (David Mackey, 83), Andy Roe, Paul Tansey, Chris Monk, Darragh Connolly (Garrett Connolly, 76), Kohei Masaki (Conor Tobin, 89). Goals: Monk (21) Masaki (28)
Hartstown Huntstown: Alex Molloy, Alan Lyons (Martin Byrne, 68), Gavin Flaherty, Ange Wanzio, Vincent McDermott, Gary Johnson, Simon Eglinton, Jarvis Doolin (Nicky Murphy, 58), Ciaran Murray, Leon Sutcliffe (Aidan Lyons, 58), David Walsh. Goals: Doolin (14 pen), Murphy (90+2)
Rockfield Park, 28 October 2017