Match Report: Seaford Rock United 1-0 Kilnamanagh
LSL Saturday Major 1B
Seaford had to wait until the 92nd minute to nick the winning goal in a tight clash, sparking jubilant scenes at Rockfield Park.
In keeping with recent matches, it was a game of few clear chances for either team until the dying stages, and while the hosts had largely controlled proceedings, Kilnamanagh had gone close to grabbing the winner themselves before eventually leaving empty-handed.
The men in navy had much the better of the first half. Midfielders David Higgins and Mike O'Neill both went close in the opening five minutes, Higgins firing into the side netting from a tight angle before O'Neill was unable to direct his close-range header past Mick Lonergan after getting on the end of. Darragh Connolly's volleyed effort, before .Stephen Canavan tested Lonergan with a rasping drive from range, which the impressive Kilnamanagh keeper briefly spilled before reclaiming.
The closest the visitors came was when Lee Hurley made a clever blind-side run to get on the end of a big diagonal, but Oisin Geoghegan got down well to divert the ball away.
On a sticky pitch, both teams struggled to create openings in the second half. Kilnamanagh winger Ciaran Maher always looked their most likely source of an opportunity, but he was denied by Geoghegan and a saving clearance from man-of-the-match Oli Wright after a searing burst of pace down the left wing, before the game came alive in the final few minutes.
Seaford introduced their three top goalscorers off the bench in the final ten minutes, but it was another substitute, Christian Firth, who did most to reinvigorate the Seaford attack, as he laid in Connolly, who nicked the ball past Lonergan only to force himself too wide to finish, and Chris Monk was unable to get on the end of his square ball.
At the other end, Luke Halpin tested Geoghegan with a curline effort from range, before Mark Darcy was denied a Hollywood ending when Geoghegan reacted brilliantly to parry his diving header.
And Geoghegan had a key role in the crucial moment in the match. Two minutes into stoppage time, he produced a perfectly weighted drop-kick over the top of the defence for Firth to chase. As Lonergan sped off his line, Firth showed bravery and sheer pace to win the race and drop the ball into the back of the net.
The win means that as they approach the Christmas break, Seaford have faced the three teams above them in Major 1B in consecutive matches at home, taking seven points from a possible nine, putting themselves in a strong position to maintain a promotion effort during the second half of the season.
Seaford: Oisin Geoghegan; Steve Kane (Stephen Kelly, 63), Paul Tansey, Ian Nolan, Fionn Lawlor, Oli Wright, (Sam Browne, 77), Mike O'Neill (Andy Roe, 84), David Higgins, Darragh Connolly (Chris Monk, 84), Stephen Canavan, Collie Barrett (Christian Firth, 59) : Goals: Firth (90+2)
Kilnamanagh: Mick Lonergan, Daithi O'Reilly, Andy Canavan, Jay Lonergan, Craig Palmer, Mark Darcy, Lee Hurley (Conor Hayes ,68), David Nolan, Luke Halpin, Dylan Kelly (Scott Hughes, 80), Ciaran Maher
Rockfield Park, 25 November 2018
In keeping with recent matches, it was a game of few clear chances for either team until the dying stages, and while the hosts had largely controlled proceedings, Kilnamanagh had gone close to grabbing the winner themselves before eventually leaving empty-handed.
The men in navy had much the better of the first half. Midfielders David Higgins and Mike O'Neill both went close in the opening five minutes, Higgins firing into the side netting from a tight angle before O'Neill was unable to direct his close-range header past Mick Lonergan after getting on the end of. Darragh Connolly's volleyed effort, before .Stephen Canavan tested Lonergan with a rasping drive from range, which the impressive Kilnamanagh keeper briefly spilled before reclaiming.
The closest the visitors came was when Lee Hurley made a clever blind-side run to get on the end of a big diagonal, but Oisin Geoghegan got down well to divert the ball away.
On a sticky pitch, both teams struggled to create openings in the second half. Kilnamanagh winger Ciaran Maher always looked their most likely source of an opportunity, but he was denied by Geoghegan and a saving clearance from man-of-the-match Oli Wright after a searing burst of pace down the left wing, before the game came alive in the final few minutes.
Seaford introduced their three top goalscorers off the bench in the final ten minutes, but it was another substitute, Christian Firth, who did most to reinvigorate the Seaford attack, as he laid in Connolly, who nicked the ball past Lonergan only to force himself too wide to finish, and Chris Monk was unable to get on the end of his square ball.
At the other end, Luke Halpin tested Geoghegan with a curline effort from range, before Mark Darcy was denied a Hollywood ending when Geoghegan reacted brilliantly to parry his diving header.
And Geoghegan had a key role in the crucial moment in the match. Two minutes into stoppage time, he produced a perfectly weighted drop-kick over the top of the defence for Firth to chase. As Lonergan sped off his line, Firth showed bravery and sheer pace to win the race and drop the ball into the back of the net.
The win means that as they approach the Christmas break, Seaford have faced the three teams above them in Major 1B in consecutive matches at home, taking seven points from a possible nine, putting themselves in a strong position to maintain a promotion effort during the second half of the season.
Seaford: Oisin Geoghegan; Steve Kane (Stephen Kelly, 63), Paul Tansey, Ian Nolan, Fionn Lawlor, Oli Wright, (Sam Browne, 77), Mike O'Neill (Andy Roe, 84), David Higgins, Darragh Connolly (Chris Monk, 84), Stephen Canavan, Collie Barrett (Christian Firth, 59) : Goals: Firth (90+2)
Kilnamanagh: Mick Lonergan, Daithi O'Reilly, Andy Canavan, Jay Lonergan, Craig Palmer, Mark Darcy, Lee Hurley (Conor Hayes ,68), David Nolan, Luke Halpin, Dylan Kelly (Scott Hughes, 80), Ciaran Maher
Rockfield Park, 25 November 2018