MATCH REPORT FROM SOUTHPORT.GB.COM

A match determined by one sloppy goal conceded from a set-piece in the last minute of regulation time may suggest a closely contested, evenly matched battle. This was not.
Southport’s alarming fallibility at defending crosses and high balls has already proven fatal on six occasions so far, denying them possible points at Kidderminster and Gravesend.
And while the scoreline as it ended fails to reflect the dominance of a somewhat unflattering Woking, the Sandgrounders were again made to suffer due to their set-piece shortcomings. An ability to scrape points when undeserved will stand any team in decent stead, but only the end of season rankings will determine how costly a tendency gift slack goals will prove.
Much of the pre-match talk centered on manager Liam Watson’s century of matches in charge at Haig Avenue, but it was goalkeeper Steve Dickinson, on his 250th league outing, who will receive the Southport plaudits in the aftermath of his sides’ fourth defeat in seven.
If it was not for the Sandgrounders’ number one, then the final outcome would have epitomized Woking’s prominence more fully.
Dickinson produced five sublime stops to prevent the hosts taking the lead earlier and when the breakthrough did arrive, it left the Southport camp bemoaning an impediment on their heroic stopper.
The Sandgrounders’ rearguard was obviously stabilised by the return of Neil Fitzhenry, who partnered the impressive Earl Davis, and whose assurance, anticipation and endeavor suggested promising prospects ahead. But Fitzhenry, who had been sidelined for exactly a month, felt the strain of a grueling contest and was withdrawn prior to the winning strike.
Southport were over-reliant on their sturdy triumvir of Dickinson, Fitzhenry and Davis and offered little to entice the travelling contingent, opting instead to use spoiling tactics and an apparently negative approach.
‘Keeper Dickinson was called in to action early on, when he was forced to foil from striker Steve Ferguson, before diving low to smother an effort from Mark Rawle.
Rawle flashed wide and Steven Evans fluffed his lines, while the visitors’ only period of attacking prominence came ten minutes before the interval.
Robinson and Leadbetter both forced saves from goalkeeper Shwan Jalal and Baker failed to find the target, before the half concluded on a sour note when Robinson was stretchered off following an over-zealous tackle on Rawle.
The hosts were continually stifled as play elapsed despite a promising start to the second half , before Kevin Leadbetter tested the alertness of Woking ‘keeper Jalal when a fizzing 25-yard drive was turned wide.
But it was the Southport stopper who remained the busier, twice denying Steve Ferguson from inside the area.
Dickinson dived excellently to his right after the Cards’ striker was released by Murray, before producing a superb reaction save after Ferguson cleanly met Rawle’s teasing inswinger.
When replacement striker Justin Richards headed against the bar from two-yards out, the Sandgrounders must have thought they had snatched a draw, but were denied their second point on the road as the ninetieth minute passed.
Jerome Fitzgerald lazily felled Steve Ferguson, allowing two substitutes to lethally combine. Steven Reed’s floated free-kick bypassed Dickinson, allowing Richards to chest beyond the line after loosing his marker, Carl Baker.
Afterwards, Liam Watson insisted Southport must be more ‘streetwise’. No-one could argue with the end result, but the manner in which the winner arrived made the long trip home even more difficult to endure.

(Alan Jones)


Southport.gb.com Match Facts:

Southport: (4-4-2) 1. Steve Dickinson, 19. Chris Lane, 6. Earl Davis, 4. Neil Fitzhenry (12. Farrell Kilbane ‘81), 3. Jerome Fitzgerald, 5. Carl Baker, 18. Dominic Krief, 2. Steve Pickford, 11. Kevin Leadbetter (20. Matthew McGinn ‘74), 8. Neil Robinson (9. Terry Fearns ‘45), 11. Steve Daly.
Unused Substitutes: 15. Jamie Speare, 14. Kevin Lynch.

Referee: S. Creighton

Attendance: 1,477

Southport.gb.com Southport Man of the Match: 1. Steve Dickinson

Final Score: Woking 1, Southport 0
Possession: Woking 66%, Southport 34%
Shots on Target: Woking 4, Southport 3
Shots off Target: Woking 5, Southport 3
Corners: Woking 7, Southport 04
Fouls Committed: Woking 10, Southport 7
Bookings: Woking 0, Southport 1
Sent-Off: Woking 0, Southport 0
 

MATCH REPORT FROM RON ELLIS AND CHAMPION NEWSPAPERS

            At Kingfield on Saturday, a Woking goal in the last minute of normal time sent Southport to their second successive away defeat and, to compound the bad news, ace striker Neil Robinson suffered an ankle injury that could sideline him for several weeks.

It was Woking’s first win of the season and no more than they deserved as The Sandgrounders rarely looked like piercing the home barriers and again showed a worrying vulnerability against set pieces.

            Aware of his team’s failure to keep a clean sheet this term, Liam Watson bolstered his defence with the return of Neil Fitzhenry.  For eighty nine minutes they kept the rampant Cards’ attack at bay without threatening much at the other end and, once again, it was a set piece that dfefeated them.

            Kevin Leadbetter came closest for the visitors with a 20 yard volley which was saved by  Shwan Jalal but big blow came when star striker Neil Robinson injured himself with a rash tackle on Mark Rawle which resulted in a yellow card and a trip back to the dressing room on a stretcher.

            Woking might have scored several times in the second half had not man-of-the-match Steve Dickinson again been in outstanding form, saving from Karl Murray, Rawle and Steve Ferguson, but the keeper was finally beaten by Justin Richards who chested in Steve Reed’s swerving free kick on the line.

            ‘The lads worked hard and did their best but Woking didn’t allow us to play,’ Liam Watson admitted. ‘They denied us possession and deserved their win. Just a pity we couldn’t hang on another five minutes. Losing Robbo is a blow. He’s going for an X-Ray on his ankle on Monday so we’ll know whether it’s ligaments or a break. Either way, it means he could be out for a few weeks.’

            I asked Watson whether he would be looking to sign a loan player to fill the gap but he was uncertain. ‘It’s a possibility but the problem is I couldn’t guarantee them a place as I have players of my own who can step up.  Someone coming in on loan would expect to walk into the team.

            Watson said Dominic Morley would make a welcome return to the side on Saturday. ‘I’ve had Exeter watched and they are a very direct team. They play the long ball from the back so I might play three up front, Fearns, Daly and Leadbetter, which have the added advantage of making it harder for them to have the space to distribute.’

            The latest defeat has left The Port in 15^th position, only three points better off than injury-hit Aldershot at the bottom. Too early to panic but certainly time to start considering whether the squad that performed so well in Conference North might need the addition of some higher quality players to survive in a higher league.

            Liam Watson has worked wonders since he took over a struggling side destined for Unibond One but the Conference is a different proposition to Conference North and it is no level playing field, with predominately full-time teams and many players earning well in excess of their Haig Avenue counterparts.

            If the manager feels he needs players of a higher calibre when the January transfer window opens, the Board must face the fact that the wage bill will have to increase although this should not be a problem as the Chairman has made no secret of the fact that his aim is to take the club back into the football league.

            Southport’s visitors on Saturday are unbeaten Exeter City who lead the table with 17 points out of  a possible 21 and have conceded only three goals all season.

          It will not be an easy game but, whatever that result, The Yellows must not allow Tuesday’s visitors, fellow strugglers and part-timers, Tamworth, to beat them on Tuesday night or the alarm bells will certainly start to ring. 

Webmaster Rob Urwin Contact rob@southportfcstats.co.uk