|
| |
MATCH REPORTS FROM GRAVESEND
& NORTHFLEET
southportgb (Champion report to
follow)
When conceding first, Southport
have not recorded an away win in non-league’s top flight since victory at
Gravesend in August 2002.
Thirty-six months and forty-three Conference games later, the Sandgrounders did
little to suggest a repeat outcome of that 3-1 win, especially after yielding
fifteen minutes into their latest visit to Kent.
Two aerial failings again proved fatal and despite Kevin Leadbetter’s temporary
reprieve which came on 37 minutes, a weary Southport struggled offensively,
looked jaded in defence and were ultimately fortunate to escape with only two
goals added to their worryingly large goals-against column.
The Sandgrounders have now shipped a Conference high fourteen times in six
outings and for the first time thus far, left their travelling supporters with
few positives at which to clutch.
Liam Watson’s side should be buoyed by the imminent return of stalwart Neil
Fitzhenry after his reserve-team outing, although skipper Steve Pickford will be
the next in-line to assume to the treatment table, after hobbling off with less
than twenty-five minutes elapsed.
Southport’s rearguard is yet to record an unblemished showing and Fitzhenry’s
arrival should make their defence that more difficult to penetrate. But when
your side is an attacking anonymity as well, it makes the five-hour journey home
all the more strenuous and the prospect of next week’s long haul to Surrey a
little daunting.
Gravesend have become one of the Conference’s perennial strugglers, but after
creditably obtaining points from Cambridge and Woking and recording today’s
first home win with a gutsy showing, Liam Daish’s side suggest they may be able
to muster some progression which stalled last term.
And defender McCarthy
gave the hosts the lead with the first shot on target of the contest.
McCarthy rose well to meet Jimmy Jackson’s outswinging corner with a bullet
header, which sailed into the top corner to give the defender his first of the
campaign.
Strike-partner Manny Omoyinmi was elastically repelled by Steve Dickinson when
bearing down on goal, before Bobby Bowry shot wide when placed to do better.
Northfleet’s debutant goalkeeper Luke McShane was somewhat unoccupied in the
main, but was helpless when Kevin Leadbetter equalised during a ten minute
period in which the Sandgrounders showed their only signs of life.
After Robinson scuffed a chance wide, Kevin Lynch, a replacement for skipper
Pickford, supplied a superbly timed through-ball to Leadbetter
Narrowly evading the offside, Leadbetter kept his cool to fire a low shot beyond
McShane.
Leadbetter missed presented with another chance to shoot, but home superiority
resumed following the interval. After Jimmy Jackson’s effort went amiss and
substitute Andrew Drury shot at Dickinson, Gravesend regained their lead on 67
minutes.
Unmarked midfielder Danny Slatter met Ben Surey's right-wing centre with a
glancing header, leaving Dickinson with no chance.
The Southport ‘keeper did, however, manage to preserve some of his side’s
respectability, preventing Slatter with a scrambling save to his left, before
acquiring the ball from Drury.
Jay Saunders and Drury again both tried their luck for the Fleet, with
half-efforts from Robinson and substitute McGinn the only moments for any away
applause.
If the Sandgrounders want to know how to scrape an unattractive, low-scoring and
sometimes undeserved victory, then Liam Watson should have stayed behind for a
quiet word afterwards. Eight of Gravesend’s fourteen wins last term came by a
single-goal margin, with their three-points at Woking paired with today’s
result, making it two already this time.
Southport.gb.com Match Facts:
Southport: (4-4-2) 1. Steve Dickinson, 19. Chris Lane, 6. Earl Davis, 12.
Farrell Kilbane, 3. Jerome Fitzgerald, 5. Carl Baker, 18. Dominic Krief (20.
Matthew McGinn ’72), 2. Steve Pickford (14. Kevin Lynch ’24), 11. Kevin
Leadbetter, 8. Neil Robinson, 11. Steve Daly (21. Robbie Booth ’72).
Unused Substitutes: 15. Jamie Speare, 9. Terry Fearns.
Referee: D. Whitestone
Attendance: 813
Final Score: Gravesend 2, Southport 1
Possession: Gravesend 54%, Southport 46%
Shots on Target: Gravesend 5, Southport 1
Shots off Target: Gravesend 5, Southport 4
Corners: Gravesend 5, Southport 3
Fouls Committed: Gravesend 11, Southport 12
Bookings: Gravesend 0, Southport 0
Sent-Off: Gravesend 0, Southport 0
|
