The natives at Haig Avenue are becoming increasingly
restless.
While it would be wrong to suggest a discontented clique
who, in querying the position of manager Liam Watson,
accurately represent the consensus of opinion among
supporters; defending the indefensible is becoming a
mightily difficult task.
Continual groans from a corner of the Jack Carr Stand once
Southport’s temporary second-half reprieve was extinguished
and the stunned silence pierced by muted jeers on the
final-whistle are signs of a disgruntled undercurrent. But
the most notable show of fury was when a sizable contingent
responded angrily to the substitution of Carl Baker on
sixty-two minutes - sparking a chorus of boos.
Although today’s showing was further ammunition for those
who thrive on unconstructive criticism, even the most
fervent Southport supporters will surely struggle to find
any reason for hope amid this period of prolonged anguish.
The likelihood of successive defeats against Accrington
Stanley on Friday evening and in the return at Morecambe
come the New Year will allow the complaining crew to further
voice their disgruntlement, but before others consider
leaping onto any bandwagon, they should be carefully
consider what is being wished for.
Almost three years ago, much-maligned manager Phil Wilson
was subjected to a torrent of abuse following a similarly
wretched display the last time Morecambe visited Haig
Avenue. He departed shortly later, in January 2003, with
Southport positioned ninth in the Nationwide Conference,
only for his successor, Mike Walsh, to collect nine points
from fifteen matches.
Watson, ‘Port’s sixth boss in as many years, has promised to
guide the Sandgrounders to safety - and should therefore be
given the wholehearted support of fans and board alike in
his quest to achieve this task.
Morecambe is a machine constructed with such solidarity that
the club can undergo a managerial transition almost
seamlessly, as Sammy McIlroy temporarily assumes the
hot-seat vacated by heart-attack victim Jim Harvey. Today’s
victory may have taken the Shrimps to fourth position in the
Conference, but recent promotion charges are the results of
an unswerving consistency at the top.
As recently as 2001, the Lancashire Reds were within two
points of being relegated to the equivalent of what is now
the Nationwide North, but a firm trust in Harvey,
manufacturer of their promotion to non-league’s top flight a
decade ago, will provide Morecambe with their first taste of
League football sooner rather than later. One look at teams
in the Conference will show there is no way Southport
currently compete with a host of clubs possessing
considerably richer resources. Admittedly, the
responsibility for this depressingly familiar tale must rest
with the manager, but to unearth the foundations from which
relatively quick success has been born, would only act as
another hindrance in a long series of setbacks.
As in previous matches against sides vying for a play-off
finish, the gulf in quality between the respective ranks was
quite stark. But surely a Southport side, most of whom were
champions back in April, are capable of competing more
meaningfully than shown today. Although the Sandgrounders
contested admirably for the opening ten minutes, there was
no matching their guests once Morecambe upped the tempo.
Much has been said about proposed recruitments during
January’s transfer window, but on the evidence of today it
will take one almighty overhaul to get ‘Port back on track.
Mathematically, their relegation deficit of five points
remains manageable, but with every abject slump surely comes
a psychological impediment which, if left to worsen, will
prove irrevocable. Excluding goalkeeper Steve Dickinson, all
departments of the Sandgrounders’ side need strengthening
substantially. Too many players have too many fallibilities
and only if Watson gets it right next month will the
Sandgrounders survive.
With three more appearances, ‘keeper Dickinson will break
David Gamble’s club record of 263 non-league starts – and
had it not been for their long-standing number one this
afternoon, then the extent of the damage inflicted upon
Southport, once again, would have been considerably worse.
Dickinson produced a superb reflex save to finger-tip Wayne
Curtis’ fierce snapshot over the bar on twenty minutes after
Danny Carlton bypassed defender Lane with considerable ease
to instigate the opening. Morecambe should unlocked their
account earlier, but livewire Carlton failed to capitalise
upon a slip from the otherwise steady Mark Roberts, clipping
the outside of the post with a low effort when clean through
on goal
Efforts from Curtis and Darren Kempson saw further
opportunities go amiss, but there was no escape for
Southport on thirty-two minutes, when Carlton rose well in
the penalty area to convert a firm header following Ged
Brannan’s superb delivery.
Goal
Manager McIlroy celebrates
Only the intervention of Dickinson either side of the
interval prevented ‘Port’s deficit from increasing, as the
Sandgrounders’ ‘keeper impressively smothered at the feet of
Carlton before foiling Michael Twiss. Minutes later, Chris
Blackburn’s towering header cannoned against the post from a
corner, but a fluent, coherent and effectual Morecambe
outfit doubled their advantage on fifty-nine minutes
concluding a move which epitomized how easy this victory
was.
In the absence of any challenge, influential wide man Garry
Thompson strolled up field and wandered towards the target,
before a twenty-yard effort was sent spiralling goalwards
with the aid of a wicked deflection off the boot of Earl
Davis, thus wrong-footing Dickinson.
Goal
Despite forcing visiting goalkeeper Steven Drench into
action through Steve Daly and Nick Rogan, Southport seldom
threatened and once Dickinson had denied both Thompson and
Curtis, Morecambe added a third with two minutes remaining.
Brannan unleashed a shot after veering inside, only for the
ball to be helped into the goal by hapless defender Mark
Roberts.
With Southport’s biggest life-line less than a week away,
manager Watson now needs support. Having announced their
commitment to back professional football next season, it is
imperative that the Haig Avenue board provide adequate funds
to secure several acquisitions with the quality required to
help drag the Sandgrounders out of the mire. And in turn,
destructive factions on the terraces will do nothing but
further impair what is already a hugely difficult ask.
Southport.gb.com Match Facts:
Southport: (4-4-2) 1. Steve Dickinson, 19. Chris
Lane, 6. Earl Davis, 25. Mark Roberts, 3. Jerome Fitzgerald,
5. Carl Baker, 27. Chris Brass, 10. Dominic Morley, 2. Steve
Pickford, 8. Neil Robinson, 9. Nick Rogan.
Unused Substitutes: 15. Jamie Speare, 4. Neil Fitzhenry.
Referee: C. Sarginson
Attendance: 1,807
Southport.gb.com Southport Man of the Match: 25. Mark
Roberts
Final Score: Southport 0, Morecambe 3
Possession: Southport 46%, Morecambe 54%
Shots on Target: Southport 3, Morecambe 7
Shots off Target: Southport 3, Morecambe 8
Corners: Southport 1, Morecambe 4
Fouls Committed: Southport 14, Morecambe 12
Bookings: Southport 2, Morecambe 2
Sent-Off: Southport 0, Morecambe 0
Southport's Chris Brass
Defender Mark Roberts
Next at Haig Avenue: Southport v Accrington
