Match Report: Seaford Rock United 4-1 Leicester Celtic
LSL Sat Major !A
Seaford made it three in a row with a comfortable win over Leicester Celtic.
After an ugly win over Drumcondra a week earlier, the Penguins raised their game significantly and were the better side from start to finish, even if it was only in the final quarter when the scoresheet reflected their dominance in the match.
Playing into a gale force wind, Seaford nevertheless took the game to the opposition in the first half, even if clearcut chances were in short supply, at least until Stephen Canavan bamboozled Nuno Monteiro with a clever stepover, drawing a clear trip and a penalty kick. But Ian Nolan was unable to beat Gavin Cronin from twelve yards.
Instead, it was Sam Browne who broke the deadlock, pouncing to prod the loose ball over the goal-line after Cronin had almost been caught out at his near post by Paul Tansey's corner.
After half time, Neil Howarth was called into the action for the first time when he reacted well to keep out a long-range effort that took a vicious bounce, and Jim Nolan defended the rebound brilliantly, denying danger man Graeme Buckley.
At the other end, Tansey saw an effort deflected inches wide before the breakthrough eventually cam with two quick Seaford goals. The first was a sensational back-post header from Canavan, looping a Mike O'Neill cross back over Cronin into the far corner, and then a foul on substitute Andy Roe gave the older Nolan a shot at redemption, which he took by slotting home.
Cronin prevented Darragh Connolly from breaking his duck for the season with a great reflex stop late on before both sides netted in injury time. First, Stephen Kelly thumped home a long-ranger with his left, aided by a deflection, to make it 4-0 before Leicester's Josh Tobin netted a consolation goal with a Howitzer of a free kick.
Seaford: Neil Howarth, Paul Tansey, Jim Nolan (Stephen Kelly, 79), Ian Nolan, Cian McGuinness, Sam Browne (Owen Brayden, 79), Mike O'Neill, Al Kennedy, Chris Monk, (Darragh Connolly, 74) Alex Smirnoff, (Andy Roe, 72), Stephen Canavan (Harry Crowe, 79) , Goals: Browne (26), Canavan (73), I Nolan (68 pen) Kelly (90)
Leicester Celtic: Gavin Cronin, Stephen Kenny (Cian Heuston, 87), Nuno Monteiro, David Miley, Gar Byrne, Bill O'Cleirigh, Sean Callis, Rob Ellison (Paddy Harmon, 47), Kevin O'Halloran (Josh Tobin, 69), Graeme Buckley, Jake Keddy (Mick Cooke, 79)
Rockfield Park, 1 February 2020
After an ugly win over Drumcondra a week earlier, the Penguins raised their game significantly and were the better side from start to finish, even if it was only in the final quarter when the scoresheet reflected their dominance in the match.
Playing into a gale force wind, Seaford nevertheless took the game to the opposition in the first half, even if clearcut chances were in short supply, at least until Stephen Canavan bamboozled Nuno Monteiro with a clever stepover, drawing a clear trip and a penalty kick. But Ian Nolan was unable to beat Gavin Cronin from twelve yards.
Instead, it was Sam Browne who broke the deadlock, pouncing to prod the loose ball over the goal-line after Cronin had almost been caught out at his near post by Paul Tansey's corner.
After half time, Neil Howarth was called into the action for the first time when he reacted well to keep out a long-range effort that took a vicious bounce, and Jim Nolan defended the rebound brilliantly, denying danger man Graeme Buckley.
At the other end, Tansey saw an effort deflected inches wide before the breakthrough eventually cam with two quick Seaford goals. The first was a sensational back-post header from Canavan, looping a Mike O'Neill cross back over Cronin into the far corner, and then a foul on substitute Andy Roe gave the older Nolan a shot at redemption, which he took by slotting home.
Cronin prevented Darragh Connolly from breaking his duck for the season with a great reflex stop late on before both sides netted in injury time. First, Stephen Kelly thumped home a long-ranger with his left, aided by a deflection, to make it 4-0 before Leicester's Josh Tobin netted a consolation goal with a Howitzer of a free kick.
Seaford: Neil Howarth, Paul Tansey, Jim Nolan (Stephen Kelly, 79), Ian Nolan, Cian McGuinness, Sam Browne (Owen Brayden, 79), Mike O'Neill, Al Kennedy, Chris Monk, (Darragh Connolly, 74) Alex Smirnoff, (Andy Roe, 72), Stephen Canavan (Harry Crowe, 79) , Goals: Browne (26), Canavan (73), I Nolan (68 pen) Kelly (90)
Leicester Celtic: Gavin Cronin, Stephen Kenny (Cian Heuston, 87), Nuno Monteiro, David Miley, Gar Byrne, Bill O'Cleirigh, Sean Callis, Rob Ellison (Paddy Harmon, 47), Kevin O'Halloran (Josh Tobin, 69), Graeme Buckley, Jake Keddy (Mick Cooke, 79)
Rockfield Park, 1 February 2020