In the space of four days, Southport have gone from a team that suggested they can be a match for anyone, to a side that looks like they will be defeated by everyone.

Perhaps it is a sample of what could be the story of the Sandgrounders’ season and maybe it is what one should expect from a side whose players and management remain Nationwide Conference novices.

Nevertheless, such unpredictability is a source of concern and apprehension which leaves the course of their campaign impossible to plot.



A dazzling opening half against in-form Crawley Town on Saturday gave a rare rise to a genuine confidence that Southport would not be the first visiting side to suffer defeat at the Aggbrough Stadium.

At the end of a lifeless 90 minutes slugged out between two impassive sides, normal order had been restored among the travelling contingent, with many left to fear the worst ahead of the weekend’s trip to a promotion-pushing York City.

With Dino Maamria again leading the front line on his own and the recalled Mark Jackson asked to fulfil an unorthodox position on the right of midfield, the Sandgrounders struggled to create, were dominated once they conceded and fashioned a mere two shots on target throughout the evening.





The visitors began commendably but were forced to reshuffle after just 26 minutes, when central defender Kevin Lee, one of only three men to have previously played every minute of Southport’s season, was stretchered off with knee ligament damage following a collision with Russell Penn. He could now be absent for up to six weeks.

Striker Maamria, the star of last weekend’s show, was fortunate not to have joined Lee in leaving the field prematurely, as an apparent two-footed lunge on Jake Sedgemore mid-way through the first period only constituted a caution in the eyes of referee Ian Smedley.

Once a header from striker Andy White opened the scoring four minutes after the re-start, Kidderminster governed proceedings and following a succession of spurned opportunities, they sealed a justified victory through Gavin Hurren with quarter of an hour remaining.





A cross from Southport’s Jackson narrowly eluded Kevin Lee inside the opening minutes, while the former Preston North End player later drew a parrying save from goalkeeper Scott Bevan with a bending shot after cutting in field.

A bitty first-half also saw Michael McGrath shoot wide for the hosts, before Russell Penn, the game’s most eye-catching performer, also failed to find the target before shooting at ‘keeper Ryan Robinson.

Maamria was denied by stopper Bevan, while at the other end, Iyseden Christie and Mark Creighton failed from range and Robinson saved after a surging run from midfielder Penn, who also sent a stinging shot whistling narrowly wide.





Although the visitors began the second period with a Mark Boyd free-kick that brought a scrambling save out of Bevan, Kidderminster took the lead on 49 minutes when Penn fed Christie, whose cross was converted by the head of White from 6 yards to end Harriers’ 319-minute wait without a home goal.

It triggered a rise in confidence for the home side that was palpable - and after White shot wide, Christie squandered an opening when he should have done better from an inviting position after good work from his strike-partner.

McGrath forced a smothering save from Robinson and Simon Russell shot over, before Gavin Hurren doubled Kidderminster’s lead in the 74th minute, unleashing a 20-yard drive as the Southport defence parted that squirmed past the visiting goalkeeper, whose finger-tips were unable to divert the shot.

Substitute Michael Blackwood fired wide, but Southport should have grabbed a consolation late on as Tony Gray fired over a glorious opportunity when Awen Douglas’ pass required a composed finish.

(Kidderminster Harriers 2 - 0 Southport - Southport.gb.com)

* Match notes and photographs courtesy of Rob Urwin, www.southportfcstats.co.uk







Southport.gb.com Match Facts:

Southport: (4-5-1) 1. Ryan Robinson, 2. Chris Lane, 5. Kevin Lee (4. Michael Powell ’26), 15. Stephen Rowland, 20. Sean Clancy, 18. Mark Jackson, 6. Mark Boyd, 8. Liam Blakeman (9. Tony Gray ’60), 17. Alex Smith, 3. Lee Hoolickin (22. Awen Douglas ’61) 10. Dino Maamria.
Unused Substitutes: 12. John Bagnall, 28. Mike Marsh.

Referee: I. Smedley

Attendance: 1,258

Southport.gb.com Southport Man of the Match: 15. Steve Rowland

Final Score: Kidderminster Harriers 2, Southport 0
Possession: Kidderminster Harriers 55%, Southport 45%
Shots on Target: Kidderminster Harriers 3, Southport 1
Shots off Target: Kidderminster Harriers 9, Southport 5
Corners: Kidderminster Harriers 9, Southport 6
Fouls Committed: Kidderminster Harriers 15, Southport 9
Bookings: Kidderminster Harriers 2, Southport 1
Sent-Off: Kidderminster Harriers 0, Southport 0



Savouring the best food in the Conference


The visiting supporters gave generously in memory of Matt Gadsby, the Hinckley United defender, who tragically collapsed and died two weekends ago