The series of sad and sorry occurrences to have been witnessed during Southport’s season of shame now includes a scuffle amongst their own support.

Deflated, exasperated, infuriated; plain fed up. Events at Haig Avenue require direction, leadership, pride to be restored - and fast.

Focal to the Sandgrounders’ revival last term was a central underpinning of unity and belief that rival supporters envied and admired. Now, just like the accomplishments of the previous campaign, the hope shared by ‘Port followers has dramatically been dispersed.

If Southport are to recover this time around, then someone in authority needs to take responsibility and ensure this shambles doesn’t become further humiliating.





With approximately 300 travelling fans contributing to Altrincham’s highest attendance of the season, there can be no questioning the yearning desire to see the Sandgrounders succeed. But given that disillusionment continues to increase, the gate at next Saturday’s FA Cup tie against Kettering Town could well provide a disturbing set of calculations for the Haig Avenue money men.

A contest of high significance at Moss Lane but sadly short on quality, Southport’s inability to seriously question a very modest Alty side is why they are deservedly bottom of the Nationwide Conference.

Missing several players both temporarily and indefinitely, their play featured more purpose and coherence than the defeat at Weymouth last weekend, but given lesser calibre of opponent, it provides no comfort.

While the stats say Paul Cook’s side mustered five shots on target, their consolation goal from debutant striker Sean Paterson on 75 minutes was the only one from open play. The on loan youngster exhibited an endeavour that warranted his nifty strike, but has an invidious task in trying to remedy the Sandgrounders’ chronic lack of goals.





Kevin Lee headed across goal early on when placed to fare more successfully after a corner by Lee Hoolickin, who himself missed the target from Danny Ventre’s cross.

But it was the hosts who fashioned the clearer openings, with a shot from striker Joe O’Neil smothered by goalkeeper Ryan Robinson having been released by Rod Thornley’s incisive through-ball, before Karl Munroe fired over.

Although Mark Boyd cleared the crossbar from a short corner routine, the Sandgrounders fell behind on 19 minutes with a goal that was characteristically scruffy. Steve Aspinall’s 25-yard free-kick was sent spinning into the bottom right-hand corner by a lunging challenge from Mark Jackson, leaving keeper Robinson wrong-footed and helpless.

A Boyd set-play was gathered by Alty stopper Richard Acton, before Kirkup flashed a header over the bar from Hoolickin’s cross, but Munroe shot wide at the other end before the midfield player doubled his side’s advantage prior to the interval.

The ‘Port defence failed to clear a Robbie Lawton corner, allowing Lewis Chalmers to deliver a centre that was smartly hooked into the bottom right-hand corner by Munroe’s clever improvisation.





Hoolickin sent a free-kick wide of the near post after the re-start, but Southport ‘keeper Robinson was relied upon to prevent the Robins from adding a third, by producing an instinctive stop with his feet to block Chalmers’ effort from point-blank range following a pass by Warren Peyton.

A low drive from ‘Port skipper Boyd was deflected wide, while Thornley squandered another opportunity for the hosts by shooting weakly into the arms of Robinson having dispossessed defender Lee, before Kirkup produced a tidy challenge to thwart the charge of the industrious Lawton.

The Sandgrounders acquired hope with quarter of an hour remaining when 19-year old Paterson neatly slid a shot across ‘keeper Action and inside the far post having brushed past two defenders. The frontman displayed good perseverance and made some promising contributions, but despite the late efforts of Boyd, Kirkup and Blakeman, the visitors couldn’t prevent their ninth defeat this term.

(Altrincham 2 - 1 Southport - Southport.gb.com)

* Photos courtesy of Julia Urwin, www.southportfcstats.co.uk





Striker Sean Paterson


'Port 'keeper Ryan Robinson\

Southport.gb.com Match Facts:

Southport: (4-4-2) 1. Ryan Robinson, 22. Danny Ventre, 26. Dan Kirkup, 5. Kevin Lee (2. Chris Lane ’70), 15. Stephen Rowland, 8. Liam Blakeman, 4. Michael Powell, 6. Mark Boyd, 3. Lee Hoolickin (11. James Olsen ’64), 14. Sean Paterson, 18. Mark Jackson (19. Joe Fowler ’56).
Unused Substitutes: 12. John Bagnall, 8. Liam Blakeman.

Referee: C. Sarginson

Attendance: 1, 336

Southport.gb.com Southport Man of the Match: 26. Dan Kirkup

Final Score: Altrincham 2, Southport 1
Possession: Altrincham 42%, Southport 58%
Shots on Target: Altrincham 4, Southport 5
Shots off Target: Altrincham 3, Southport 9
Corners: Altrincham 7, Southport 4
Fouls Committed: Altrincham 12, Southport 13
Bookings: Altrincham 1, Southport 3
Sent-Off: Altrincham 0, Southport 0




Manager Cook with chairman Charlie Clapham (right) and Cheif Executive Haydn Preece




Gary Brabin, the former Southport defender, in the crowd