Southport FC 1 - 2 Dagenham & Re

STANDING ORDER FOR GOALDEN LOTTERY

MATCH REPORTS FROM southport gb and Champion Newspapers

Southport FC 1 - 2 Dagenham & Redbridge
By Alan Jones southport.gb.com

Despite promises of banishing a fitful year to the past, Southport continue to fluctuate from one extreme to another.

If the Sandgrounders run regular repeats of a shockingly wretched first-half display, then Liam Watson’s men will wallow on their current points tally for as long as they remained stationary prior to Monday’s draw at Morecambe.

But the sense of regret with which ‘Port exited Haig Avenue provided the greatest grounds for encouragement. The Sandgrounders ended their goal-drought with 914 minutes on the clock and had they not made life so foolishly difficult for themselves, would have collected the rewards a vibrant turnaround deserved.

To keep an established Conference side on the back foot for large bouts of the second period is proof that amid their current ranks lays adequate quality to seek survival. But the longer Southport continue to recklessly inflict damage upon themselves, the less manageable their current five-point deficit at the foot of Non-League’s top flight will become.

A formation comprising of five defenders may have provided the basis of a stubborn resistance at Morecambe five days ago, but a similar endorsement conspicuously limits the options available when harbouring an onus to win.

It was by no coincidence that Southport produced their most impassioned attacking football of recent weeks once Watson reverted to a standard two banks of four following Earl Davis’ withdrawal on forty-minutes. The tweak in system deployed widemen Carl Baker and Matthew McGinn where they are most effective and only a considerable lack of potency in front of the target ultimately denied the Sandgrounders a deserved point, thus heightening the priority for further reinforcements during January.

Possessing much momentum, the hosts should have profited upon a seventeen-minute period during which they held a one-man advantage. After Baker had broken Southport’s duck following the re-start, Daggers midfielder Jake Leberl was dismissed for a clumsy two-footed lunge on substitute Nick Rogan who was surging towards goal.

But despite twice rattling the woodwork and testing the reflexes of goalkeeper Tony Roberts, the Sandgrounders relinquished their benefit when striker Steve Daly was ordered down tunnel for a needlessly retaliating to Shane Blackett’s cynical foul, from which a scuffle ensued. Daly appeared to raise his fist towards the primary aggressor and was fortune that Captain Steve Pickford didn’t join him following a similar show of petulance for which he was cautioned.

After conceding first, Southport have not retrieved a deficit in the Conference since victory at Gravesend and Northfleet in August 2002, so it was of little surprise that an air of resignation emanated from the field and onto the terraces once Jake Leberl had given Dagenham the lead with just six minutes gone.

As in the reverse fixture on the season’s opening day, Leberl exposed the Sandgrounders’ aerial fallibilities by converting a Paul Bunce corner with an unchallenged header that was a result of alarmingly woeful marking

And as the hosts’ passion disintegrated, Chris Mackail-Smith capitalised on more static defending, waltzing unhindered past three Southport defenders before calmly stroking the ball past goalkeeper Dickinson.

This was only the second occasion on which Dagenham had scored more than once in a match since October and it spoke volumes of ‘Port’s ineptitude that the visitors should have added to their tally. Paul Benson, Scott Griffiths and scorer Mackail-Smith all saw shots miss the target, while Southport mustered only a speculative effort from Robinson and Daly’s effort from ten-yards in reply
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2-0 Goal

Celebrations

Southport’s change in tactics may have been inadvertent as defender Davis had reportedly complained of sickness prior to the match, but whatever happened at the interval, the Sandgrounders re-emerged with an obstinate exterior that home performances have long been without.

Within four minutes of the second-period, the hosts drew level when Daly delivered a low cross after raiding down the right, allowing Carl Baker to slide the ball home having timed his late run into the box to perfection.

After waiting seems like an age to score, only activity in the transfer market will ensure Southport goals do not become endangered species. Purchasing anything other than a seasoned scorer would be a gamble, but proven talismen willing join ‘Port’s course are themselves a rare breed.

Having converted his side’s dearly-craved goal, Baker then produced moments of flair which have endeared his so closely to the ‘Port faithful. Once Leberl was dismissed, the Southport winger had shots blocked by defender Cole and ‘keeper Roberts before delivering a free-kick out of which arose the hosts’ nearest miss.

Mark Roberts towered high to crash a header against the crossbar, only for the resultant rebound to be instinctively tipped onto the woodwork again, as Roberts denied substitute Nick Rogan from close range.

Southport squandered their main lifeline when Daly was dismissed shortly after and despite creating opportunities for McGinn and Pickford, the Sandgrounders were fortunate not to have conceded on the counter-attack as Chris Moore blazed high when in an inviting position during the dying embers.

After falling short in a match of such significance, there is no overestimating the enormity of Southport’s game at home to fellow strugglers Scarborough next weekend. Another failure to win and the mathematical and psychological implications could prove irretrievable.

SOUTHPORT 1 DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE 2

BY RON ELLIS

A truly insipid first half performance cost Southport a game they could and should have won on Saturday but, despite a spirited second half comeback The Daggers were able to hold on for the three points leaving their seaside rivals marooned at the foot of the Conference table.

The Sandgrounders have now gone nine games since their last Conference win, at home to Forest Green Rovers on October 8^th and, when you realise that Carl Baker’s goal was the first the club have scored for 919 minutes, you can see why they are in the position they are.

Dagenham stared with all guns blazing. Danny Foster fired over the bar after a good run by Paul Benson in the first minute and they were ahead five minutes later when Jake Leberl was left unmarked at the far post where he had the simplest of tasks to run in and head Paul Bruce’s corner into the net.

In the 17th minute, Dagenham were two up after Craig Mackail-Smith crowned a fine individual run, taking the ball past two defenders, before slamming the ball past the helpless Steve Dickinson.

Southport looked bereft of ideas. Daly had a shot easily saved by Roberts and Baker’s effort was deflected for a corner after a run by Robinson but it was the Essex side who were looking the most likely and Chris Brass did well to cut out a dangerous cross from Mackail-Smith’

Earl Davis had suffered sickness and diarrhoea before the game so perhaps would have been better advised not to take the field in the first place. As it was, his replacement, Neil Fitzhenry, showed something like his old form after he came on in the 40^th minute. Robinson didn’t appear for the second half having had five stitches inserted in his thigh which was ripped open in an early challenge.

Whatever Liam Watson told his team during the interval, after their lamentable lack of effort in the first 45 minutes, must have struck a chord because his players came out galvanized for the second half and within four minutes had pulled a goal back. Baker started the move, Daly took up the running on the wing and his cross was finished off by Baker to give his side their first Conference goal for 619 minutes.

Sadly for Southport, they could not follow it with a second although it was not for want of trying as they stormed the Dagenham goal for the rest of the afternoon.

Laberl was sent off for a two-footed lunge on 63 minutes and, from the free kick, Roberts scrambled Baker’s shot over the line for a corner.

Nick Rogan, who looked the most effective forward, headed over a Baker cross and Mark Roberts’ header bounced off the crossbar and came out to Baker who saw Roberts tip his effort on to the bar again and over for a corner.

Daly scuffed a shot to the keeper after 75 minutes but was dismissed shortly afterwards for throwing a punch at Blackett in retaliation against the Essex man’s injudicious use of his elbows. Sid Pickford was then booked for his part in the ensuing fracas.

The Port almost got the goal their revitalised performance deserved when a fine low shot from 15 yards out by Matty McGinn was stopped on the line by the diving Roberts in the 83^rd minute and there was still time for Baker to see his swerving long range shot curl over the bar.

At the death, third substitute, Dominic Morley, sloppily gave the ball away to Paul Moore who raced down on goal on his own then blazed over the bar when he could have sealed his team-mates nerves by putting the issue beyond doubt.

The Yellows face another six-pointer at Haig Avenue next Saturday when they have the chance to complete the double over fellow-strugglers Scarborough. Another must-win game!

Michael Stringfellow has signed for the club on a month’s loan and he and triallist Neil Grant are expected to turn out at Burscough on Tuesday night for the first round Liverpool Senior Cup-Tie.

LIAM WATSON TALKS TO RON ELLIS

‘We played without any passion or motivation in the first half. Dagenham were nothing special. We gave away two silly goals and left ourselves with too much to do. This was a game we had to win after eleven games against top teams but we threw it away. Steve Dickinson didn’t have a shot to save all afternoon apart from the two goals both of which were down to two defensive errors and were totally avoidable. I really do feel that the players we had out there today were capable of winning this match but obviously they were not hungry enough to do it.

Now we’re going to be without Steve Daly for three games, which is a big blow to us. He deserved to get sent off but he wasn’t fighting with himself so why didn’t the Dagenham player go as well? On the other hand, Leberl’s dismissal was harsh so I suppose it evened things out.

We have to start winning soon as the teams around us are picking up points.’

COMMENT

If this team are capable of beating a very average Dagenham side, the big question must be, why didn’t they? Much must be blamed on the apathetic first half performance. Individual players need to stand up and be counted. Why weren’t they hungry? They were certainly hungry enough to fight in the second half and hasn’t such unprofessionalism cost enough in suspensions already this season?

Yet despite the vigorous attacking display for the last 45 minutes, the sad fact remains that they was still unable to make up the deficit, which makes one question the quality in the squad. They are simply not good enough to survive at this level without substantial reinforcements.

We must believe the Chairman when he says that money is available to bring in a higher calibre of player but there are not too many such players available and would they be prepared to commit their futures to a relegation-threatened club when there are probably other offers on the table?

Maybe it is time to look at a short-term solution and bring in a pack of seasoned mercenaries to the end of the season to try to avoid the drop and then start rebuilding for the future in the summer. The cost will be justified if Conference status is saved.

Saturday’s defeat places even more importance on next week’s visit from relegation rivals Scarborough. The recovery must come soon or it is going to be too late and what price full-time football at Haig Avenue next season then?

Team Dickinson Brass Lane Davis (Fitzhenry (40) Daly McGinn Pickford Roberts Baker Powell (Morley) Robinson (Rogan (46)

Att. 1002

Referee Ian Nolan

Man of Match Mark Roberts