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MATCH REPORTS FROM southport.gb.com
& Ron Ellis
A football truism states that the mark of a
successful team is the ability to win without maximizing potential.
In that case, Exeter should not be begrudged their sixth victory of the campaign
and if they continue in a similar vein, could achieve a finish to befit their
newly-bestowed standing of title favourites.
But such a suggestion will not rest easy with Southport. They know that if a
succession of glorious opportunities had been profited upon during a first-half
which they had bossed, then the outcome could have been starkly different.
Exeter boss Alex Inglethorpe
Mascots Adam Booth and Chelsea Wareing lead out the sides
with skipper Steve Pickford
The reason why the Grecians extended their lead at the summit of the Conference
was because they were ruthless. Three takes of clinical counter-punching meant
they flew home with all the points, despite showing that when ruffled, they are
not to be the coherent, unwavering unit many would expect.
In contrast, those searching for an answer as to why the Sandgrounders have sunk
to nineteenth place, it is because they distinctly lack what Exeter have – a
lethal touch. Liam Watson’s men engineered several intricate moves, shifted the
ball across the field admirably and at times during the opening period, made the
Conference toppers appear a ragbag of their true selves.
But their enlightening moments of positive play must be consistently prolonged
and combined with an uncompromising proficiency, because had the hosts been able
to convert a succession of first-half openings, the outcome could have slanted
into their favour. It is no exaggeration to assume that on another day,
Southport may have emerged with an equally convincing result tucked beneath
their belts.
There was a moment in the 70th minute which epitomized perfectly the
Sandgrounders’ fruitless afternoon.
After working himself into space, Terry Fearns, the man who bagged forty-one
times last term, rounded goalkeeper Paul Jones. Through on goal and amid an air
of anticipation, the Fearns of old would have caused the net to bulge without a
flicker of an eyelid. But Southport’s record-breaking striker showed his current
mindset, opting instead for a feebly attempted square pass to Steve Daly, which
was easily intercepted by defender Chris Todd.
Southport will learn, but how long before they do and the lasting consequences
of their current fallibilities will only be realised once the final make-up of
the Conference campaign is achieved.
Exeter Director of Football, former Tottenham and England
midfielder Steve Perryman
Exeter began sprightly, were quick to advance forward and created the first
opening when Craig Farrell whistled over after the lively Tony Scully had caused
some defensive worry.
But once the hosts decided to get among the Grecians mid-way through the opening
period, not only did they frustratingly stifle their more illustrious opponents,
but creditably forced the play.
At the hub of the Sandgrounders’ thrust was the enigmatic Carl Baker and striker
Steve Daly who tirelessly battled against a robust rearguard, provided lay-offs
for others to speculate and won countless aerial knock-downs, many of which his
team-mates failed to anticipate or capitalise upon.
Both fired wide before Terry Fearns’ audacious angled chip looped over with
'keeper Jones off guard.
Skipper Steve Pickford drilled a rasping drive narrowly wide, before Chris
Lane’s right-wing cross/shot landed on top of the net, as Southport sparked into
life.
While Tony Scully’s long-range effort was the visitors' only response, the
Sandgrounders retired for the interval contemplating Daly’s header which clipped
the to of Exeter's crossbar after meeting Lane’s enticing centre at the far
post.
If Southport entered the dressing room ruing their missed opportunities, then
they were even more regretful ten minutes after re-emerging, with all of
Exeter's three goals arriving in quick succession.
Within 60 seconds of the restart, Craig Farrell converted after Paul Buckle’s
low ball from the right eluded the Sandgrounders’ defence, allowing for a
comfortable close-range conversion.
And the visitors doubled their advantage 2 minutes later, braking forward
rapidly to catch their opponents fatally on the counter-attack.
No sooner had Krief lost possession than Sawyer fed Challinor, who played the
ball to Farrell. And his through ball allowed Lee Phillips to cooly fire over
stranded goalkeeper Steve Dickinson and into the empty net.
It was three on 54-minutes, as Exeter again skipped upfield hastily, allowing
Phillips to provide the assist for Craig Farrell to drill home his second of the
afternoon from 20-yards.
Naturally, Southport lost much of their first-half drive, as Fearns lofted a
shot onto the roof of the net, before Daly’s pull-back after diligent work in
the area was rebuffed by defender Hall.
When Fearns attempted to find Daly instead of pulling the trigger, it was
obvious that Southport would end goalless, but Exeter's Craig Farrell, who fired
into the side-netting and Tony Scully also shot off target late on.
The mood around Haig Avenue starkly contrasted the one which followed
Southport’s previous home defeat against York.
Fans know if the positive traits can be sustained for lengthier bouts and
combined with more potency, then the future will be brighter, even though the
Sandgrounders’ goals-against column continues to grow alarmingly huge.
Any return against the league leaders would have provided a major
confidence-boost, but it will be during matches against the lesser opposition
when Southport will be rigorously scrutinised, as points will be a necessity.
(Alan Jones)
Southport.gb.com Match Facts:
Southport: (4-3-1-2) 1. Steve Dickinson, 19. Chris Lane, 6. Earl Davis,
12. Farrell Kilbane, 3. Jerome Fitzgerald, 10. Dominic Morley (14. Kevin Lynch
‘71), 18. Dominic Krief, 2. Steve Pickford (20. Matty McGinn ‘79), 5. Carl Baker
(21. Robbie Booth ‘75), 11. Steve Daly, 9. Terry Fearns.
Unused Substitutes: 15. Jamie Speare, 12. Farrell Kilbane.
Referee: M. Matadar
Attendance: 1,423
Southport.gb.com Southport Man of the Match: 11. Steve Daly
Final Score: Southport 0, Exeter City 3
Possession: Southport 47%, Exeter City 53%
Shots on Target: Southport 3, Exeter City 5
Shots off Target: Southport 8, Exeter City 6
Corners: Southport 4, Exeter City 6
Fouls Committed: Southport 9, Exeter City 13
Bookings: Southport 2, Exeter City 0
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SOUTHPORT 0 EXETER CITY 3 by RON ELLIS |
Seven
minutes of madness at the start of the second half spelt disaster for
Southport at Haig Avenue on Saturday when Exeter City gained a 3-0 win
despite the home side matching the league leaders for most of the game.
Up to the interval, it
was the home side who were the stronger team, playing some of their best
football of the season and well worthy of their Conference status.
Indeed, they could have been four or five goals up by half time if only
the chances they created been taken.
After only two minutes,
Steve Daly saw his goal-bound shot skied for a corner by Chris Todd,
standing on the line. Exeter immediately went on the attack themselves
but Steve Dickinson easily saved Craig Farrell’s effort then Neil
Fitzhenry turned Lee Phillips cross for a corner.
A 20 yard
snap left foot shot from the outstanding Carl Baker was inches away from
giving his side the lead in the 10th minute and, at the other
end, Craig Farrell shot over from the edge of the box as both sides
committed themselves to attack.
As the
half advanced, The Port started to dominate. Terry Fearns headed a cross
from Jerome Fitzgerald wide in the 36th minute and went on to
miss an equally good chance when he for once beat the offside trap, only
to lob the ball over the bar as well as the advancing keeper when a
fierce low shot might have been preferable.
Forty
five minutes were on the clock when Baker and Chris Lane combined well
but Lane’s deep cross was headed onto the bar by the perfectly placed
Daly at the far post and then Lane himself was inches wide with a
commendable effort from the touchline. When the four minutes stoppage
time had been played, The Grecians were noticeably relieved to go in on
level terms.
Nobody
could have predicted the explosive opening to the second half. Within
one minute of the restart, Dominic Krief completely miskicked his
clearance and on that one error the game changed. The ball fell to
Farrell who made no mistake in half-volleying it past the helpless
Dickinson. Almost from the kick-off, Farrell passed to Lee Phillips
whose shot was blocked by the keeper but the ball rebounded straight to
Phillips who made no mistake with his second attempt.
Five
minutes later, Farrell took a pass from John Challinor, outpaced
Fitzhenry and the rest of the defence and raced down the pitch to slot
the ball past Dickinson for an easy third. All Southport’s impressive
first half effort gone for nothing. Game set and match to Exeter.
Dickinson
saved Scott Hiley’s shot after Earl Davis gave the ball away but he
almost gave away a fourth goal when he tried to do his Thierry Henry
impression and dribble the ball away from Farrell but only ended up
passing it to Phillips whose first time shot skimmed the far post.
To their
credit, Southport did not give up and Fearns, holding off three players,
managed to lob the ball goalwards only to see it land onto the roof of
the net. Daly saw Gary Sawyer kick away his cross as it ran along the
goal line and Fearns dallied too long in shooting before finally
electing to cross to the waiting Robbie Booth only for Andy Taylor put
the ball out for a corner.
With
Tuesday’s game in mind, Liam Watson brought off Baker, Dominic Morley
and Sid Pickford but it was too late for their replacements to make any
impact.
Craig Watkins and Taylor both missed chances as the Devon
side ran out the final minutes but the 350 strong crowd of Devon
supporters went home happy leaving the part-timers of Southport down in
19th place.
Liam Watson, was in no doubt where the blame lay. ‘It’s all
about make and take in this game,’ he said. ‘We made the chances but
didn’t take them. We were the better team for long spells of the game
and had four or five good chances in the first half alone, none of which
we put away. Then Dominic Krief makes a simple mistake, their man seizes
on it and its in the back of the net. Lethal finishing. Suddenly,
they’re on fire and six minutes later it’s 3-0. All their goals came
from defensive errors. From the chances we made we could have had half
a dozen goals but instead, we make three defensive errors and lose three
goals.’
Looking ahead to Tuesday night’s fixture at home to
Tamworth, Watson said, ‘This is now the biggest game of the season for
us. We have to beat the teams around us in the table so we need to
bounce back with a quick victory. My target is to get 50 points as
quickly as we can and then take it from there.’
Exeter City boss, Alex Inglethorpe, gave full credit to his
opponents when I asked him if he was surprised at Southport’s first half
performance.
‘No, they are a good team. We knew that before we came up
here and for the last twenty minutes of the first half they were well on
top but I felt that going in 0-0 at half time was a good thing for us.
They posed a threat with their attacking and made us defend a lot deeper
than we would have wanted. However, we capitalised on a defensive error
and after that took over the game. In the end, I felt we deserved the
victory.’
After last
night’s Tamworth match, The Yellows have two long trips ahead of them.
On Saturday they travel to Essex to 15th placed Canvey
Island and three days later make the four hour journey to the East coast
to play Scarborough who are 16th in the table. Two victories
would move Southport above both teams and, as Liam Watson has pointed
out, it is those teams around us we need to beat. We have shown we can
match the top teams playing football, we just have to learn to score
goals again.
SOUTHPORT
Dickinson (6); Lane (8); Fitzgerald (8); Davis (7); Fitzhenry (6); Krief
(6); Morley (7) Lynch 71min); Baker (7) (Booth 75 min); Pickford (7) (McGinn
79 min); Daly (7) Fearns (7)
ATTENDANCE 1423
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