Match Report: Seaford Rock United 2-3 Pegasus St James
LSL Sat Major 1A
A stunning late save denied Seaford an unlikely point after a stirring second-half comeback at Rockfield Park
The Penguins had looked dead and buried after falling 0-3 down early in the second half, with man-of-the-match Daryl O'Reilly at the heart of the best Pegasus play.
It was a sluggish start from Seaford, who got away with an early scare when Brian Claffey's superb cross evaded several teammates in the goalmouth, before Dean Balcik's effort was blocked. But Balcik was on hand to open the scoring minutes later, tapping in a rebound from close range after O'Reilly had slalomed past several Seaford defenders. Balcik got a second with a back=post header from another Claffey delivery, as Seaford appealed in vain for offside.
The home side improved as the half went on, and had a chance to get back into the game when Lucas Rivilla's miscued header allowed Stephen Canavan in, but although the striker did well to watch the ball onto his foot as it dropped over his shoulder, Adraino Giordano made a fine reaction save to deny him.
Instead, it was Pegasus who got the crucial third goal through a stunning effort from O'Reilly on 53 minutes, leaving Seaford with a mountain to climb.
But the hosts' substitutes had a positive impact on the match, and Canavan pulled one back after rounding Giordano and slotting home, and then reduced the deficit further when with a deflected effort from MJ Tierney's pass. It was all Seaford in the closing stages, with Harry Crowe cutting in from the left and curling just wide of the far post. And when David Higgins opened onto his left as the game ticked into stoppage time, he coudln't have placed it any better in the top corner, but Giordano somehow clawed it away to seal the point for Pegs.
Seaford: Neil Howarth, Jim Nolan, Paul Tansey (Harry Crowe, 75), Ian Nolan, Cian McGuinness (Mike O'Neill, h/t) Fionn Lawlor , Chris Monk (David Higgins, 68), Robbie Creevy (Sam Browne, 80), Darragh Connolly (MJ Tierney, 68). Garrett Connolly , Stephen Canavan
Pegasus St James: Adriano Giordano, David Finnegan, Steve Maher, Lucas Rivilla, Federico Monticelli (Miguel Gonzalez, 55), Fintan O'Callaghan, Brian Claffey, Sebatiano Buono, Dean Balcik (Mirko Busu, 86), Laurent Bruce (Luca Danzo, 52), Daryl O'Reilly
Rockfield Park, 19 October 2019
The Penguins had looked dead and buried after falling 0-3 down early in the second half, with man-of-the-match Daryl O'Reilly at the heart of the best Pegasus play.
It was a sluggish start from Seaford, who got away with an early scare when Brian Claffey's superb cross evaded several teammates in the goalmouth, before Dean Balcik's effort was blocked. But Balcik was on hand to open the scoring minutes later, tapping in a rebound from close range after O'Reilly had slalomed past several Seaford defenders. Balcik got a second with a back=post header from another Claffey delivery, as Seaford appealed in vain for offside.
The home side improved as the half went on, and had a chance to get back into the game when Lucas Rivilla's miscued header allowed Stephen Canavan in, but although the striker did well to watch the ball onto his foot as it dropped over his shoulder, Adraino Giordano made a fine reaction save to deny him.
Instead, it was Pegasus who got the crucial third goal through a stunning effort from O'Reilly on 53 minutes, leaving Seaford with a mountain to climb.
But the hosts' substitutes had a positive impact on the match, and Canavan pulled one back after rounding Giordano and slotting home, and then reduced the deficit further when with a deflected effort from MJ Tierney's pass. It was all Seaford in the closing stages, with Harry Crowe cutting in from the left and curling just wide of the far post. And when David Higgins opened onto his left as the game ticked into stoppage time, he coudln't have placed it any better in the top corner, but Giordano somehow clawed it away to seal the point for Pegs.
Seaford: Neil Howarth, Jim Nolan, Paul Tansey (Harry Crowe, 75), Ian Nolan, Cian McGuinness (Mike O'Neill, h/t) Fionn Lawlor , Chris Monk (David Higgins, 68), Robbie Creevy (Sam Browne, 80), Darragh Connolly (MJ Tierney, 68). Garrett Connolly , Stephen Canavan
Pegasus St James: Adriano Giordano, David Finnegan, Steve Maher, Lucas Rivilla, Federico Monticelli (Miguel Gonzalez, 55), Fintan O'Callaghan, Brian Claffey, Sebatiano Buono, Dean Balcik (Mirko Busu, 86), Laurent Bruce (Luca Danzo, 52), Daryl O'Reilly
Rockfield Park, 19 October 2019