AWAY DAYS

 A PERSONAL VIEW OF RECENT MATCHES 

After the Frickley game it was off to Altrincham but before then I must just say a quick word about the game I attended on the Sunday after the Frickley match. Nothing to do with Southport but well worth a mention, Everton Ladies against Birmingham Ladies in the Nationwide Womens Premier League. It was a great advert for ladies football. It finished 3-2 to Everton with the winning goal being one of the best you will ever see in your life. It came from a girl called Karen Boyle who I had picked out after five minutes as being a bit special.  She was a class above anyone else on the pitch, so much so that I looked up her name on a website when I got home to find out more and my star spotting potential was justified as it turned out she is already in the England Under 17 squad and a full England call up is imminent. Keep a look out for this name. Perhaps Mr Watson could use me as a scout? Maybe not!

I got in in time to watch the Spurs v Boro game on TV and the entertainment value of this dross compared to the ladies game put the Premiership to shame. It’s the same argument I use to my friends at work, the entertainment in a lot of Southport games is far better than some of the garbage you watch in the Premiership you just don’t have the decent crowds to create the atmosphere.

Off to Altrincham, an old stomping ground for me having been there on several occasions. The FA Cup tie in 78/79 which we lost 4-3 was featured in John Massam’s fan profile earlier in the season and is certainly the game I remember most but the league game earlier in the same season was also a great game with us winning 3-1 in front of 1683 fans, our goals being scored by John Beesley, two and my hero George Dewsnip!

Moss Lane hasn’t changed much over the years, it was £7 to get in with a very good programme available for £1.50. No segregation in force which was a blessing considering the awful weather. Wouldn’t it be good to get behind the Blowick End goal again if we didn’t have our segregation policy enforced by Sefton Council?

The game seemed to bring a mixed reaction from the fans. Some felt we were unlucky whilst others seemed to think we were struggled. My view was that we played well enough up to the penalty box but after that it just seemed to lack the spark that was needed to score. I was disappointed as I thought we would get a draw (the 11/5 on offer was taken) but looking back we had the chance that hit the bar and the follow up which was missed but apart from that very little in and around the goal. There was another healthy away following in the crowd of 679 just missing Alty’s highest of the season by 4. After the relatively small following we took to Frickley when I noticed a number of the regulars seemed to be missing it was good to see most back at Alty.

I think we will have to stop playing away games on a Tuesday, 1-2 at Stalybridge, 0-1 at Worksop, 0-1 at Lancaster and 0-1 at Altrincham with just the 1-1 draw at Barrow last Tuesday giving us a point.

The home game last Saturday was disappointing, the lads put in plenty of effort and twice fought back but that man Bambrook popped up with two more goals against us. Why didn’t he stay at Wakefield & Emley!

The injuries we had for this game meant, as the Visiter reported, we were down to the bare bones, and, whilst I am no master footballing tactician the lack of a creator in midfield was apparent to all. I knew it was desperate when they asked me if I had my boots as I went past the main door! At least the effort is back and as long as we keep at it and all get behind the lads even when things aren’t going as we would wish I am sure we will pull things around. I think we all have to be patient now (me included for those who stand near me and who have to suffer my shouts of frustration at times) and let our new manager shape the team in his own style.

I sadly had to miss the Barrow game (my first miss of the season) when either Steve Daly or Chris Price took the honour of being the 500^th player to represent the ‘Port in our Non-League days. I’m not sure how we determine who was actually the 500^th and, for any other Stattos’ out there the Barrow game was our 53rd game in a row without a goalless draw. Funnily enough for the two best supported clubs in the league it was by far the lowest gate of the season at Holker Street with only 805 turning up.

That makes me feel even more guilty for not going. I can only assume that the lure of Man U v Rangers on telly and both Barrow’s and our rather indifferent form being too much for most.

My thanks to “Amnesiac” for the match updates throughout the game!