Seaford Rock United 4-3 Knockmitten United
Seaford's substitutes secured a dramatic comeback win as the second picked up all three points for the first time since the opening week of the season.
Not for the first time this season, the home side conceded an early goal, with only four minutes gone when fullback Matt Tappin put Craig Brennan's back post cross into his own net. And it nearly got worse for the whites just moments after the restart, when Brennan set up Ryan Leary, who prodded the ball inches wide. But instead, it was 1-1 insdie 10 minutes, with parity restored by Francis Mulhall, who pounced on an error by Knockmitten keeper Damien Dominik to squeeze the ball over the line.
The remainder of the half was scrappy with Knockmitten having the best chance late on. Eoin English made a fine stop to deny Kevin Bently from David Blair's square ball, and from the rebound Tappin made up for his early blunder with a crucial intervention, muscling Sean Harris off the ball and deny a certain goal.
Harris wasn't to be denied on 64 minutes, as he ran on to Gary Fitzpatrick's through ball and thumped the ball home at the near post. But again Knockmitten's lead was short lived, with Tyrone McNelis firing hom from the edge of the box to make it 2-2.
On 76 minutes, Kristian Dominic's long range effort dropped under the crossbar to restore the blues' advantage, but yet again the Seaford response was instant, with sub Daire Ralph nodding home a sensational whipped cross from McNelis. It was a madcap few minutes, as Seaford's Chris Sastre setting up a tap-in for Alan Brennan on the edge of the six yard box, only for Brenann to swipe at fresh air as he tried to apply the finish, before English made a crucial stop at the other end, with Harris blazing the rebound over the bar with the goal at his mercy.
And it was Seaford who grabbed the winner with just three minutes to play. Brennan set Stephen Kelly through on goal, and although Damien Dominik blocked his effort, Sastre watched the ball onto his foot and volleyed home on the spin to claim the points.
Seaford: Eoin English, Steve Kane, Matt Tappin, Darren Grealish, Adam Finnegan, Wouter Houk (Stephen Kelly, 65), Shane Lauritsch (Chris Sastre, 73), Andy Roe, Frank Mulhall (Daire Ralph, 69), Tyrone McNelis. Goals: Mulhall (10), McNelis (67), Ralph (77), Sastre (87)
Knockmitten: Damien Dominik; Sean O'Donnell, Robert MacArdle, Leon Lycett, Gary Fitzpatrick, Dean McEvoy (Dean Coleman, 65), Ryan Leary, Craig Brennan, Thomas Manly (Sean Harris, 31) , Kevin Bentley, David Blair (Kristian Dominik, 73). Goals: Tappin (og 4), Harris (64), K Dominik (76)
Rockfield Park, 5 November 2016
Not for the first time this season, the home side conceded an early goal, with only four minutes gone when fullback Matt Tappin put Craig Brennan's back post cross into his own net. And it nearly got worse for the whites just moments after the restart, when Brennan set up Ryan Leary, who prodded the ball inches wide. But instead, it was 1-1 insdie 10 minutes, with parity restored by Francis Mulhall, who pounced on an error by Knockmitten keeper Damien Dominik to squeeze the ball over the line.
The remainder of the half was scrappy with Knockmitten having the best chance late on. Eoin English made a fine stop to deny Kevin Bently from David Blair's square ball, and from the rebound Tappin made up for his early blunder with a crucial intervention, muscling Sean Harris off the ball and deny a certain goal.
Harris wasn't to be denied on 64 minutes, as he ran on to Gary Fitzpatrick's through ball and thumped the ball home at the near post. But again Knockmitten's lead was short lived, with Tyrone McNelis firing hom from the edge of the box to make it 2-2.
On 76 minutes, Kristian Dominic's long range effort dropped under the crossbar to restore the blues' advantage, but yet again the Seaford response was instant, with sub Daire Ralph nodding home a sensational whipped cross from McNelis. It was a madcap few minutes, as Seaford's Chris Sastre setting up a tap-in for Alan Brennan on the edge of the six yard box, only for Brenann to swipe at fresh air as he tried to apply the finish, before English made a crucial stop at the other end, with Harris blazing the rebound over the bar with the goal at his mercy.
And it was Seaford who grabbed the winner with just three minutes to play. Brennan set Stephen Kelly through on goal, and although Damien Dominik blocked his effort, Sastre watched the ball onto his foot and volleyed home on the spin to claim the points.
Seaford: Eoin English, Steve Kane, Matt Tappin, Darren Grealish, Adam Finnegan, Wouter Houk (Stephen Kelly, 65), Shane Lauritsch (Chris Sastre, 73), Andy Roe, Frank Mulhall (Daire Ralph, 69), Tyrone McNelis. Goals: Mulhall (10), McNelis (67), Ralph (77), Sastre (87)
Knockmitten: Damien Dominik; Sean O'Donnell, Robert MacArdle, Leon Lycett, Gary Fitzpatrick, Dean McEvoy (Dean Coleman, 65), Ryan Leary, Craig Brennan, Thomas Manly (Sean Harris, 31) , Kevin Bentley, David Blair (Kristian Dominik, 73). Goals: Tappin (og 4), Harris (64), K Dominik (76)
Rockfield Park, 5 November 2016