Southport FC 0 - 2 Halifax Town

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STANDING ORDER FOR GOALDEN LOTTERY

MATCH REPORTS FROM SOUTHPORT GB AND RON ELLIS CHAMPION NEWSPAPERS

Report From Alan Jones www.southport.gb.com

Mid-way through November and even talk of Christmas remains premature for many. So with the Nationwide Conference season marginally more than a third old, it speaks volumes of Southport’s current tribulations when ‘January’ becomes the latest buzzword on the terraces at Haig Avenue.

With hopes pinned on a substantial influx of recruits, the New Year transfer window is spoken of as if it will provide a resuscitating stroke of intervention to radically transform a campaign in worrying deterioration. Talk about the market’s opening is as such that some seem to forget about five critical matches before any rejigging of the Sandgrounders’ can take place - or perhaps it’s that they dare not contemplate what forthcoming trips to Accrington Stanley, Aldershot Town and Morecambe will deliver. On the evidence of today, at least, the frosty-toed supporters have every reason to harbour fears of a hard winter.

For a side to whom this fixture presented the most realistic of claiming three points before 2005 expires, the ‘Port were alarmingly sterile. Lacking cohesion and devoid of vitality, an unconfident Southport appear worn-out even before they reach the crux of their battle to avoid the drop.

Carl Baker’s fiercely-disputed dismissal on twenty-four minutes may distract some critics and intermittent flurries of second-half promise could bolster a few weary souls, but another frightening afternoon is further evidence of how Southport continue to be outclassed in all departments.

One could argue that the Sandgrounders lost this contest in a disastrous four-minute period during which they conceded twice and saw their most industrious player dismissed. But to ignore their general sluggishness, bouts eccentric defending and inability to ask more than two notable questions would be disregarding the underlying facts which only raise concerns.

For a team whose strength is supposedly in attack, no goals in 300 minutes of play inspires very little and for a defence who had already shipped on thirty-one occasions, to concede two goals and a hatful of opportunities is simply woeful. Southport will debtless keep plugging away, but on an afternoon during which Baker became their second player to be dismissed in successive matches, it is apparent that frustrations are growing as fortunes dwindle.

A comfortable victory moves Halifax into a play-off place and although they were efficient, appeared considerably inferior than other sides to have visited Haig Avenue so far. The effectual Martin Foster and Tyrone Thompson were dominant in midfield, but nervousness in defence was not exploited.

Town took the lead on twenty-one minutes, when Craig Midgely’s corner was feebly cleared, allowing the unmarked Foster to score with a low drive from sixteen-yards after deflecting through a clutch of Southport defenders.

Goal

Celebrate

The visitors increased their advantage within sixty seconds when Jake Wright’s hanging cross was converted by the head of Danny Forrest at the far post after pitiable defending from Fitzgerald.

And the dismissal of Carl Baker for a professional foul on Wright less than two minutes later further compounded Southport’s growing misery. Despite clearly winning the ball, challenges in which both feet are raised from the ground are always liable to be punished in the severest form, and referee Fletcher needed little excuse to brandish the subsequent red card.

But even before Baker’s dismissal, the Sandgrounders had showed a reluctance to attack and failed to cerate varying outlets, meaning striker Steve Daly, who has bagged just once in his last fifteen outings, was continually eased out.

Halifax should have furthered their tally before the break, when Forest's shot whistled wide after a knock-down from Mansaram, Midgley looped a bending effort over and Lewis Killeen’s glancing header narrowly missed after some imaginative approach play to which their opponents were mere spectators.

Southport’s woes were encapsulated shortly after the start of the second period when Kevin Leadbetter missed a brace of glorious opportunities to put his side back in contention. The ‘Port frontman lashed an effort over despite having time to compose himself when arriving unmarked at the far post from a corner. Minutes later and with goalkeeper Legzdins grounded, he then agonisingly placed an angled shot narrowly wide after being released by a sumptuous ball from Neil Robinson.

In fact substitute Robinson, introduced at half-time, added a much-needed thrust to the Sandgrounders’ attack and was unfortunate not to see his endeavour rewarded.

But Halifax retained the upper-hand and would have added further credence to their victory if it was not for a hat-trick of inspired saves from goalkeeper Steve Dickinson. The Southport stopper was down quick to deny Lewis Killeen who raced clear of a static home rearguard, before Dickinson had to be alert to turn Mansaram’s downward header around the post.

But the most severe test of his agility came in the closing minutes after Justin Bowler’s fizzing cross was diverted towards his own goal by Dominic Krief, only for Dickinson to prevail with a save to top elasticity.

RON ELLIS & CHAMPION NEWSPAPERS

Southport have dropped into the Conference relegation zone after two goals in two minutes gave Halifax Town an easy victory at Haig Avenue on Saturday, only their second away win of the season. In the space of three minutes, The Sandgrounders conceded two goals and had their star player sent off which effectively ended the game as a contest.

Perversely, it was they who started brightest with Kevin Leadbetter having a couple of early chances but he was denied first by a saving tackle by Denny Ingram and then shot wide after a poor clearance from Adam Legzdins.

At this point, the Halifax defence, and their keeper in particular, looked uncertain but it all changed in the 21^st minute. A Craig Midgeley corner fell to Martin Foster 25 yards out and his shot caught a lucky deflection to wrong-foot Steve Dickinson for an unexpected goal for the visitors.

The second followed almost immediately. Jake Wright threaded a pass into the area, the keeper and the defence flapped and Danny Forrest hooked it into the net off the post.

A minute later, Carl Baker, who had earlier showed his talent with a dazzling run down the right, went in two-footed on Wright and referee Mr. Fletcher had no option but to dismiss him. ‘A moment of indiscipline,’ commented Liam Watson later. ‘Whatever happens, if you go in two-footed it’s a sending off offence but I would question why no action was taken earlier when Neil Fitzhenry was elbowed. And Steve Daly was on crutches on Saturday night after a tackle that went unpunished.’

Down to ten men, it was always going to be an uphill struggle for the home side and, although they competed right to the final whistle, from then on The Shaymen were always in control. Only the superlative goalstopping ability of Dickinson prevented further goals as the Yorkshiremen attacked at will.

Peter Atherton, Midgeley and Forrest all went close as the half progressed whereas, in reply, a tame shot from Dominic Morley on half-time was Southport’s only shot on target.

The hard-working Leadbetter had a couple of good chances to level the score early in the second half but he shot over from a Sid Pickford corner and put the ball wide on a one to one with Legzdins.

In the 51^st minute, Dickinson pulled off a great save when Darran Mansarem put Lewis Killeen through and his shot was speeding to the goal only for the Southport keeper to show great agility and block it with his feet.

Dickinson made a similar point blank save in the 58^th minute, this time from Foster, with Pickford was on hand to clear.

A 69^th minute header from Earl Davis from Pickford’s corner which sailed over the bar represented The Port’s last real goal attempt. The last ten minutes were all Halifax, cheered on by their large contingent of several hundred supporters behind the Blowick goal.

A shot from substitute Justin Bowler bounced off Dominic Morley and sped towards the Southport goal but Dickinson leapt across to punch away and the keeper still had time to block a shot by John Grant before the final whistle mercifully stopped the one sided contest.

It is obvious to everyone that The Port’s problem is a lack of quality players but, as Liam Watson explained to me (below), getting them to come to Haig Avenue is not that easy. Meanwhile, he has to persevere with the players he has and next Saturday’s visit to Accrington Stanley will not be an easy ride. John Coleman’s side lie second in the table with 13 points from their last six games. Hopefully, a good away support for the short trip across Lancashire will spur the team to victory.

SOUTHPORT Dickinson Pickford Fitzgerald Davis Fitzhenry Baker Morley Krief McGinn (Powell 31) Daly (Robinson 46) Leadbetter (Rogan 69)

Referee Russell Fletcher Attendance 1402 Star Rating ***

LIAM WATSON TALKS TO RON ELLIS

‘I won’t have a negative word said about my players. We may have lost today but I’m actually delighted with their efforts. We played with ten men at Crawley last Saturday, 120 minutes against Woking on Tuesday night and now another 90 minutes with ten men for most of today’s game. The club is asking a lot from its players, to put in these hours playing and travelling when they have jobs as well.

I am working with the Chairman to try to set up a new structure at the club to make it more like a full time operation. Neil Whalley has left Southport FC today, purely because his job will not allow him to put in the hours he needs to be here. Ideally, we would like to bring in a full-time assistant/coach and have the players in more than two nights a week for training.

I am well aware we need more quality players and experienced players but, as I have said before, it is not that easy persuading them to come and play for us. I have spent all of the last week trying to bring in loan players and will be doing so again this week. The fact that we are part time, our position in the table and that they have to fit into our wage structure are all factors that go against us. Realistically too, I can only look at players from this area as what is the incentive for anyone based down south to give up their jobs and move up here to play part-time for us?

In the past week I have made enquiries for Chris Brass (York City but currently on loan to Harrogate Town), Phil Bolland (Chester City), Andy Todd (Burton Albion), Rory Prendergast (Blackpool), Mark Roberts (Crewe) and Adriano Rigoglioso (Doncaster Rovers), all players with League or Conference experience. At the moment I am keeping my fingers crossed that one or maybe two of them will join us on loan in time for the next game. I have already said I wanted Carl Ruffer here but the £800 a week salary Morecambe pay him was not feasible for us.

In the meantime, I have given Farrell Kilbane permission to talk to Stalybridge Celtic. Farrell has done a great job for me here and I know the fans appreciate all he has done and will wish him all the best.

Lastly, I must emphasise, the supporters must not despair. We will not go down. I fully expect to be in the Conference next season and, with the changes we hope to make at the club, competing rather than surviving at that level.