Village can’t hold on after McBurney bags the opener

The Village came out of the traps flying, creating their first golden chance on with just five minutes on the clock.

Aaron McAvoy played a through ball to frontman McBurney but with only the keeper to beat, the striker saw his shot blaze over the crossbar.

St Mary’s couldn’t deal with the high tempo the Village had set and the hosts created another great chance two minutes later through the same man. Some neat football made an opening and from 18 yards McBurney fired a shot narrowly wide.

Seapatrick need not have worried as their deserved breakthrough came on 15 minutes when a Cunningham cross was cut-back for McAvoy. The St Mary’s keeper spilled the ball out and McBurney fired home to give the home side the lead.

The Village kept pressing hard and caused all sorts of problems seeing another two great chances go begging. On 35 minutes, Crawford had a smashing volley saved and from the counter attack, St Mary’s frontman crashed a volley of his own into the top corner.

It’s all fine lines and, although they could have been two ahead, the Village found themselves level at the break.

In the second half, the game stayed the same way as the Village pressed hard and missed chances were to prove costly.

On 65 minutes, a free kick into the box ricocheted around and their frontman poked home from a yard. The Village worked hard and pushed for an equaliser but it wasn’t to be. On 80 minutes, St Mary’s sealed the game after a break down the right and a pin point cross left the simplest of headers to break Village hearts.

Seapatrick continued to push and on 85 minutes a great run down the left from Myles resulted in a superb cross with Cunningham only an inch away from a certain goal. That was to be the story of the day - that bit of composure in front of goal had cost the lads so dearly.

However, they can’t afford to feel sorry for themselves with Annagh up next in the last 16 of the Bob Radcliffe Cup at Havelock on Saturday (kick-off 2.30pm). Seapatrick will have to be on top of their game as they aim to cause an upset against the Championship Two high flyers.