Match Report: St Kevin's FC 3-4 Seaford
LSL Saturday Major 1
Under a blood moon shrouded by angry grey clouds,, Seaford produced a heroic display in a must-win match to finally drag themselves away from relegation scrap.
The Penguins met the dramatic occasion with furious midfield energy, ruthless finishing and - as the pressure was ratcheted ever higher - an uncompromisingly resolute defensive performance.
They led within five minutes. Rob O'Shea fed Michael Akingbade, whose powerful strike was saved by Alister Anith, but Greg Hughes pounced to convert his first ever Seaford goal.
Timi Silva was unlucky not to add a second when his header bounced into the turf and then over the crossbar, and instead Kevin’s equaliser with their first attack, Jack Ryan forcing the ball over the line after a game of head tennis in the Seaford six yard box.
Akingbade restored the Penguins’ advantage, finishing a slick move that saw Al Kennedy feed a brilliant ball into O’Shea, whose square ball was inch-perfect for the big striker to convert.
And as the first half drew to a close the visitors were going closer and closer. Silva saw a rocket of a shot saved before Conor Fennell volleyed just over from the resulting corner, and the winger then forced Anith into another smart stop with the final action of the half.
The second half began in the same vain. Jack Keegan did brilliantly to put Akingbade through on 53, but after chopping inside onto his right, he wrapped his shot just wide.
But when he got a second opportunity moments later, he made no mistake, racing onto a great Brian Murphy through-ball and showing great composure to slot home.
There was another sucker-punch when Danilo Schwartz unleashed a stunning curler to make it 3-2, and only an incredible reflex save from Eoin English kept Seaford in front, the veteran stopper flying to his left to parry Aaron Dequina’s spinning volley.
Then, another wondergoal for 4-2, as MJ Tierney chased down what seemed a hopeless cause and produced a breathtaking dinked finish that left poor Anith snatching at thin air.
Yet again, Kevin’s raised themselves from the canvass. Idris Olafimiham’s mazy dribble left a trail of defenders in his wake , even if the finish was untidy, and with five to play the same man seemed sure to level, drawing back his right boot with the goal at his mercy, only for Eoin Mahon to intervene with a saving tackle every bit as important and impressive as anything that had preceded it.
Sam Browne might have given Seaford some breathing space with a stoppage time header. Instead, there was a nervy finale , but Burnsie’s boys clung on.
What had seemed a hopeless season has been rescued by a brilliant run of six wins and two draws from ten matches have surely now ensured the Penguins’ survival.
Seaford:, Eoin English, Eoin Mahon (Eoin O'Farrell, 87), Brian Murphy , Al Kennedy, Craig Conlon, Rob O'Shea Timi Silva (Peter Bardon, 80), Jack Keegan, Conor Fennell (Niall Holleran, 71) Greg Hughes (MJ TIerney, 60) Michael Akingbade (Sam Browne, 90 + 1)
St Kevin's FC: 1 Alister Anith; 2 Romeo Omozee; 3 Kalvin Tuohy; 4 Eoin Duffy; 5 Jack Ryan; 6 Evan McGee; 7 Danilo Schwartz; 8 Jordan Farry; 9 Stephen Cantwell; 10 Johan Thomas Varghese; 11 Idris Olafimiham. Subs: 12 Alex Brady, 13 Ibrahim Celik, 14 Victor Dantas Ferreira, 15 Sean Phillips, 17 Aaron Dequina
St Aidan's CBS, 12 May 2025
The Penguins met the dramatic occasion with furious midfield energy, ruthless finishing and - as the pressure was ratcheted ever higher - an uncompromisingly resolute defensive performance.
They led within five minutes. Rob O'Shea fed Michael Akingbade, whose powerful strike was saved by Alister Anith, but Greg Hughes pounced to convert his first ever Seaford goal.
Timi Silva was unlucky not to add a second when his header bounced into the turf and then over the crossbar, and instead Kevin’s equaliser with their first attack, Jack Ryan forcing the ball over the line after a game of head tennis in the Seaford six yard box.
Akingbade restored the Penguins’ advantage, finishing a slick move that saw Al Kennedy feed a brilliant ball into O’Shea, whose square ball was inch-perfect for the big striker to convert.
And as the first half drew to a close the visitors were going closer and closer. Silva saw a rocket of a shot saved before Conor Fennell volleyed just over from the resulting corner, and the winger then forced Anith into another smart stop with the final action of the half.
The second half began in the same vain. Jack Keegan did brilliantly to put Akingbade through on 53, but after chopping inside onto his right, he wrapped his shot just wide.
But when he got a second opportunity moments later, he made no mistake, racing onto a great Brian Murphy through-ball and showing great composure to slot home.
There was another sucker-punch when Danilo Schwartz unleashed a stunning curler to make it 3-2, and only an incredible reflex save from Eoin English kept Seaford in front, the veteran stopper flying to his left to parry Aaron Dequina’s spinning volley.
Then, another wondergoal for 4-2, as MJ Tierney chased down what seemed a hopeless cause and produced a breathtaking dinked finish that left poor Anith snatching at thin air.
Yet again, Kevin’s raised themselves from the canvass. Idris Olafimiham’s mazy dribble left a trail of defenders in his wake , even if the finish was untidy, and with five to play the same man seemed sure to level, drawing back his right boot with the goal at his mercy, only for Eoin Mahon to intervene with a saving tackle every bit as important and impressive as anything that had preceded it.
Sam Browne might have given Seaford some breathing space with a stoppage time header. Instead, there was a nervy finale , but Burnsie’s boys clung on.
What had seemed a hopeless season has been rescued by a brilliant run of six wins and two draws from ten matches have surely now ensured the Penguins’ survival.
Seaford:, Eoin English, Eoin Mahon (Eoin O'Farrell, 87), Brian Murphy , Al Kennedy, Craig Conlon, Rob O'Shea Timi Silva (Peter Bardon, 80), Jack Keegan, Conor Fennell (Niall Holleran, 71) Greg Hughes (MJ TIerney, 60) Michael Akingbade (Sam Browne, 90 + 1)
St Kevin's FC: 1 Alister Anith; 2 Romeo Omozee; 3 Kalvin Tuohy; 4 Eoin Duffy; 5 Jack Ryan; 6 Evan McGee; 7 Danilo Schwartz; 8 Jordan Farry; 9 Stephen Cantwell; 10 Johan Thomas Varghese; 11 Idris Olafimiham. Subs: 12 Alex Brady, 13 Ibrahim Celik, 14 Victor Dantas Ferreira, 15 Sean Phillips, 17 Aaron Dequina
St Aidan's CBS, 12 May 2025