Allotment work hard to come away with point
0 0
REECE Monaghan’s first-half penalty save helped West Allotment Celtic earn a well-earned point at Seaham Red Star.
Despite the lack of goalmouth action across the 90 minutes, the 201 in attendance at the Independent Utility Advice Arena were treated to a game with plenty of key moments.
Allotment certainly had to work hard to come away from the game with a point after the visitors were reduced to 10 men early in the second half when Scott Mccarthy was dismissed for a foul on Jack Patton.
It was almost a dream start for the hosts as Allotment goalkeeper Reece Monaghan spilled the ball straight into the path of Adam Lennox inside the first minute.
However, the in-form striker could not take advantage and his effort was skied over the bar.
On 19 minutes, Allotment created their first big chance of the game as a well-timed challenge from Jack Errington started a quick-fire counterattack but Mccarthy was unable to take advantage as his shot was comfortably palmed away by Patton.
Another golden chance fell to the visitors three minutes later.
Luke Parkinson’s 25-yard free kick was parried by Patton and the rebound fell to Matty Hayton, but the forward was unable to convert as his shot was blocked.
On the half-hour mark, Seaham were awarded a penalty after Gee Baltazar brought down Danny Sayer inside the area.
Lennox was the man to step up but he saw his spot kick was stopped by the legs of Reece Monaghan after the striker tried to go down the middle.
Minutes after the penalty miss, Lennox tried his luck again from 20 yards but his effort evaded the crossbar to ensure the game was goalless at the half-time break.
The second half began in horrific fashion for West Allotment.
Mccarthy raced towards goal to receive a pass but ended up colliding with Seaham goalkeeper Jack Patton.
Mccarthy was shown a straight red card for the challenge leaving Allotment facing a huge uphill battle in the second half.
The smell of blood was in the air for Seaham as the hosts looked to capitalise on the one-man advantage – and they almost did that instantly.
With 55 minutes on the clock, Josh Baggs drilled the ball across the box towards Thomas Bott but he narrowly failed to get a decisive touch.
Allotment almost landed a sucker punch with the hour-mark approaching.
Matty Hayton was played through on goal and went one-on-one with Patton but a heavy touch from the striker just took the ball away from him in the vital second.
With Allotment continuing to frustrate Seaham, the hosts had another huge penalty appeal with 15 minutes to go.
Louis Anderson looked to be taken down inside the area, but the appeals were waved away by the official and that decision ensured the deadlock would remain in place when the fulltime whistle blew.