Seaford v Mornington

COPLEY DOUBLE FAILS TO SECURE POINTS IN LOCAL DERBY

Mornington 2 (Copley), Seaford 3 (Allen, Bacon, Djurovic)

Mornington travelled to a blustery Seaford last Saturday to contest the local derby in a must-win game for both teams.

Mornington started brightly and controlled the game for the first 20-minutes with young Denholm Pickering in particularly good touch on the right wing.

For all of Mornington’s possession they failed to trouble Seaford’s defence and a horrible defensive mix-up lead to Seaford scoring the first goal of the game totally against the run of play.

This goal spurred Seaford into action and they played their best football of the match that eventually culminated in a free kick on the edge of the box.

Bacon ensured Seaford went 2-0 up with a well positioned free kick that beat the 5-man wall and also Mornington’s goalkeeper.

From the resulting kick-off Pickering found himself with the ball on the edge of the box and a probing cross missed the Mornington forwards by millimetres.

Half time could not come quickly enough for Mornington going in 2-0 down.

After the break Mornington lifted their tempo, pinning Seaford back in their own half for long periods of time.

This pressure was then rewarded when Copley collected the ball on the edge of the box, beat one defender and smashed the ball into the back of the net.

The momentum had well and truly swung Mornington’s way by this point and they were rewarded once again when Seaford’s keeper bundled Mick Bailey over for a penalty.

James Copley stepped up and calmly slotted the ball to bring the game back on even pegging.

Mornington continued to apply the screws and could have been in the lead when defender Matt Wright bustled his way through a number of Seaford defenders but hit his shot over the cross bar.

Two-minutes later Seaford survived a goal-mouth scramble only to give a free kick away on the edge of the box from the next attack.

The ensuing free kick was taken quickly and cleared by the Seaford defenders who launched their own counter attack that proved fruitful when Djurovic slotted home from ten yards out.

Mornington continued to apply the pressure in an effort to find an equalising goal with John Watson receiving a yellow card as the game started to turn spiteful.

To Seaford’s credit they gamely hung on to record their third win of the season lifting them to fourth on the ladder, while Mornington were once again left to lament poor defending and missed opportunities.