Seaford Rock United 3-1 Phoenix FC
LSL Sat Major 1C
The first team began their league campaign with a comfortable win against a youthful Phoenix side.
With a large number absentees, Seaford manager Alan Burns chose to move skipper Michael O’Neill to a central midfield role alongside debutants Adam Finnegan and Piers Sheltonn, while Paul Lydon spearheaded the attack.
Phoenix began brightly but Seaford had the first effort on goal, when Lydon found Ryan Scollard with a sublime throughball, but the young winger’s shot was too high.
On 12 minutes, Lydon was clattered by a Phoenix defender after nicking the ball away from him, and referee Leszek Adamczak pointed to the spot and Daz Connolly made no mistake from 12 yards to give Seaford the lead.
The home side doubled their advantage at the midpoint of the first half when Lydon broke down the left side and his squared pass was deflected to Scollard, who unleased and unstoppable right footed shot into the back of the net.
Seaford saw the half out with plenty of possession but few clearcut opportunities, but early in the second half the outcome was put beyond doubt with a superb third goal. Lydon managed to get to Shelton’s inch-perfect throughball just before the Phoenix keeper and executed a sublime dinked finish to make it 3-0.
Whether through complacency or a lack of match fitness, Seaford let the visitors back into the game somewhat in the final half hour, and Phoenix pulled a goal back on 67 minutes. Centre back Paddy Costello was caught out by an awkward bounce to allow a Phoneix forward in on goal, and he smashed the ball past keeper Eoin English.
The game opened up at that point, with Scollard forcing a fine reflex save out of the visiting keeper after a sensational run down the right wing and angled shot. The closest Phoenix came to forcing a second was though their left back Tierney, whose powerful shot was stunningly saved by English diving low to his left.
In truth, however, a comeback never looked on the cards, despite a Phoenix centre half going very close with an unmarked back post header, and Seaford sub Mark Hanratty hit the post in the dying moments before the referee’s final whistle.
Tougher challenges perhaps lie ahead for Seaford in their Major 1C campaign, but with a depleted team this represented a solid start to the season.
Seaford: E English; S Faherty (J Nolan, 65), J Bannon, C Fahy, P Costello; A Finnegan (M Hanratty, 76), M O’Neill (c) (J Power, 81), P Shelton; R Scollard, D Connolly, P Lydon. Goals: D Connolly (pen, 12), R Scollard (22), P Lydon (49)
Rockfield Park - 5 September 2015
LSL Sat Major 1C
The first team began their league campaign with a comfortable win against a youthful Phoenix side.
With a large number absentees, Seaford manager Alan Burns chose to move skipper Michael O’Neill to a central midfield role alongside debutants Adam Finnegan and Piers Sheltonn, while Paul Lydon spearheaded the attack.
Phoenix began brightly but Seaford had the first effort on goal, when Lydon found Ryan Scollard with a sublime throughball, but the young winger’s shot was too high.
On 12 minutes, Lydon was clattered by a Phoenix defender after nicking the ball away from him, and referee Leszek Adamczak pointed to the spot and Daz Connolly made no mistake from 12 yards to give Seaford the lead.
The home side doubled their advantage at the midpoint of the first half when Lydon broke down the left side and his squared pass was deflected to Scollard, who unleased and unstoppable right footed shot into the back of the net.
Seaford saw the half out with plenty of possession but few clearcut opportunities, but early in the second half the outcome was put beyond doubt with a superb third goal. Lydon managed to get to Shelton’s inch-perfect throughball just before the Phoenix keeper and executed a sublime dinked finish to make it 3-0.
Whether through complacency or a lack of match fitness, Seaford let the visitors back into the game somewhat in the final half hour, and Phoenix pulled a goal back on 67 minutes. Centre back Paddy Costello was caught out by an awkward bounce to allow a Phoneix forward in on goal, and he smashed the ball past keeper Eoin English.
The game opened up at that point, with Scollard forcing a fine reflex save out of the visiting keeper after a sensational run down the right wing and angled shot. The closest Phoenix came to forcing a second was though their left back Tierney, whose powerful shot was stunningly saved by English diving low to his left.
In truth, however, a comeback never looked on the cards, despite a Phoenix centre half going very close with an unmarked back post header, and Seaford sub Mark Hanratty hit the post in the dying moments before the referee’s final whistle.
Tougher challenges perhaps lie ahead for Seaford in their Major 1C campaign, but with a depleted team this represented a solid start to the season.
Seaford: E English; S Faherty (J Nolan, 65), J Bannon, C Fahy, P Costello; A Finnegan (M Hanratty, 76), M O’Neill (c) (J Power, 81), P Shelton; R Scollard, D Connolly, P Lydon. Goals: D Connolly (pen, 12), R Scollard (22), P Lydon (49)
Rockfield Park - 5 September 2015
