You wouldn’t have been short of company in thinking that Tuesday evening’s meeting at the Kassam Stadium could well produce several goals.

After all, Southport’s previous two away matches against teams with promotion credentials had both delivered four.

But it is the manner in which those goals are being distributed that has increasingly become the most difficult aspect to forecast.

Having been blitzed by Grays Athletic yet dogged at York City, many would have expected to experience a repeat of the former, such had been the disappointment of the past week.



Indeed, the Sandgrounders again journeyed home with a sense of frustration and underachievement - but it is that tinge of regret which also offers the most encouragement.

Denied a momentous victory only in the last minute by the second of two penalties, Paul Cook’s side were twice ahead through Dino Maamria. Stubborn and plucky, they must be credited for deploying some shrewd tactics and contesting keenly at a stadium where most visitors have been intimidated.

Maamria was again the centre of the midfield prior to the withdrawal of lone striker Tony Gray, while Michael Powell, deputising for captain Mark Boyd, provided the shackles that constrained play-maker Andrew Burgess.

Despite replying with plenty of possession, Oxford found it difficult to harm an efficient rearguard action led by the outstanding Steve Rowland, while the Sandgrounders showed they were capable of constructing some purposeful moves on the counter-attack.

Of course, their 90 minutes of hard graft will be considerably undermined if Southport fail to respond when harbouring the onus this weekend, against a St Albans City side with whom they are now tied on points in the relegation places.





Maamria put the Sandgrounders ahead after just three minutes, converting Alex Smith’s corner with a glancing header when unmarked at the near post.

From then on, the visitors may have spent a large period on the back foot, but unlike in recent outings, the attacking play they did fashion was incisive and meaningful. The impressive Joe Fowler dragged a shot across goal after galloping forward, before Gray placed an effort wide.

Oxford’s Steve Basham fired over, as did Eddie Anaclet, but the Nationwide Conference leaders had to wait until the half-hour before truly coming to life. Rob Duffy cleared the crossbar from 25-yards after being freed by Carl Pettefer, before the Welsh hotshot supplied a cross with which Eddie Hutchinson failed to make contact.

Basham placed a header narrowly wide of the near post from a Burgess free-kick, while goalkeeper Ryan Robinson thwarted Anaclet and defender James Olsen scraped off the line a Chris Willmott header after the Southport stopper had failed to connect cleanly with Pettefer’s corner.





After ‘keeper Robinson had produced a sprawling save to turn Burgess’ 30-yard drive around the post following the interval, Oxford levelled on 54 minutes. Anaclet, thrust into the box and was sent tumbling to ground under the challenge of Dan Kirkup, allowing Duffy to confidently dispatch the resultant penalty.

Chris Willmott then headed over, while Hutchinson and goalscorer Duffy also failed to find the target, but after Fowler and Maamria had shot wide at the other end, the Sandgrounders grabbed a second from another corner with fifteen minutes remaining. Smith’s kick drifted over goalkeeper Billy Turley before being on by Carl Baker, leaving Maamria to head into the unguarded net from close range.

It was the first time the U’s had conceded two in a match this season, but their unbeaten run was not to finish at twelve matches, as Duffy restored parity in the final moments. Referee Steven Cook pointed to the spot on the say-so of his assistant after defender Rowland collided with substitute Yemi Odubade, allowing the in-form frontman to take his personal tally to eight by steering the kick past Robinson.

(Oxford United 2 - 2 Southport - Southport.gb.com)

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

* See also:
Southport FC 0 - 1 Exeter City - Match Report. Click Here.









Southport.gb.com Match Facts:

Southport: (4-5-1) 1. Ryan Robinson, 2. Chris Lane, 26. Dan Kirkup, 15. Stephen Rowland, 11. James Olsen, 7. Carl Baker, 4. Michael Powell, 10. Dino Maamria, 19. Joe Fowler, 17. Alex Smith, 9. Tony Gray (3. Lee Hoolickin ’61).
Unused Substitutes: 12. John Bagnall, 8. Liam Blakeman, 23. Francis Barry, 28. Mike Marsh.

Referee: S. Cook

Attendance: 5,844 - The biggest crowd to have watched Southport in a Non-League match
(Including 81 away supporters)

Southport.gb.com Southport Man of the Match: 10. Dino Maamria

Final Score: Oxford United 2, Southport 2
Possession: Oxford United 71%, Southport 29%
Shots on Target: Oxford United 5, Southport 2
Shots off Target: Oxford United 8, Southport 4
Corners: Oxford United 5, Southport 3
Fouls Committed: Oxford United 9, Southport 21
Bookings: Oxford United 2, Southport 4
Sent-Off: Oxford United 0, Southport 0