A game, most certainly, of two halves. Having suffered more woe at home after a sudden and dramatic change in proceedings, Southport now require a similarly unexpected intervention to revive their rapid decline.

Forceful and assertive in the opening period, yet perplexingly abject following the re-start, this was the Sandgrounders’ seventh defeat of the campaign and leaves their supporters with genuine fears of a descent to further disarray.

It is no exaggeration to argue that the controlled football composed during the first 45 minutes was among the most pleasing extracts of Southport’s season to date. Polished in possession, the hosts took the lead through Mark Boyd shortly before the break and orchestrated the opportunities that should have earned them more.

But to have then re-emerged with confidence sapped and their play distinctly devoid of organisation means this setback represents a serious concern. The graft in the hosts’ midfield ceased to exist and their apparent resignation gifted Stevenage countless opportunities to have triggered further unrest.

The ineffective and dismally unproductive response of Paul Cook’s side to falling behind rightly brought the decisions and judgement of their manager under close scrutiny once again. Despite vociferous claims from a clutch of spectators at the final whistle, it may remain premature to project another managerial departure, but there is no doubt that patience at Haig Avenue wearing thinner by the day.

Having made a spirited start, striker Mark Jackson, who recorded arguably his most purposeful showing in a Southport shirt, shot at goalkeeper Alan Julian with a stinging volley after Boyd’s pass was flicked on by defender Luke Oliver.

Defender Dan Kirkup placed a header narrowly wide from Chris Lane’s cross, while skipper Boyd fired over and Jackson again drew an efficient stop from the visiting ‘keeper. Alex Smith tidily fed Tony Gray, who released his striker partner to fire a low drive from outside the area that was turned wide.

Stevenage forward Steve Morison headed off target before bring denied by Ryan Robinson - and the ‘Port stopper produced a great show of reflexes to intercept Dwane Lee’s close range aerial effort which looked destined for the goal.

After Boyd and Smith had unsuccessfully tried their luck, the Sandgrounders assumed a well-merited advantage on 39 minutes with a fine move. Gray supplied a measured through-ball to Boyd, who accelerated into the area and converted the pass by steering a composed finish past the dive of Julian.

The hosts ended the half with Carl Baker shooting wide from 25-yards, but it took Stevenage less than five minutes to level the score following the re-start. Jon Nurse supplied the cross for Morison to net his ninth of the campaign by heading past Robinson with the Southport rearguard in shreds.

With the introduction of the influential Craig Dobson at the interval, Boro had reshuffled decisively and they netted the telling strike on 54 minutes by again exploiting some shocking defending. George Boyd passed to Nurse, who was afforded the room to thrust forward and slide a shot beyond ‘keeper Robinson with ease from close range.

Allowed to repeatedly venture forward, Boro should have furthered their tally as Barry Fuller was denied by the Southport stopper, who also repelled Mark Beard, before John Nutter shot wide after teaming up with Boyd.

‘Port substitute Joe Fowler twice missed and forced a save from ‘keeper Julian in a pitiful response from the hosts, whose miseries were compounded ten minutes from time when Chris Lane was dismissed for a second bookable offence. Having received a caution for a foul on Boyd in the first period, the defender became the fourth Southport player to be dismissed this season by needlessly clashing with Nurse.

Boyd and Morison both squandered late opportunities to net a third for Boro, whose first victory at Haig Avenue since 1995 means their opponents are now without a win in seven.

(Southport 1 - 2 Stevenage Borough - Southport.gb.com)

* Apologies, no photos available


Southport.gb.com Match Facts:

Southport: (4-4-2) 1. Ryan Robinson, 2. Chris Lane, 26. Dan Kirkup, 4. Michael Powell, 20. Sean Clancy, 7. Carl Baker, 6. Mark Boyd (11. James Olsen ’80), 3. Lee Hoolickin (22. Awen Douglas ’85), 17. Alex Smith, 18. Mark Jackson (19. Joe Fowler ’64), 9. Tony Gray.
Unused Substitutes: 12. John Bagnall, 8. Liam Blakeman.

Referee: A. Halliday

Attendance: 1,010

Southport.gb.com Southport Man of the Match: 9. Tony Gray

Final Score: Southport 1, Stevenage Borough 1
Possession: Southport 49%, Stevenage Borough 51%
Shots on Target: Southport 9, Stevenage Borough 6
Shots off Target: Southport 4, Stevenage Borough 5
Corners: Southport 7, Stevenage Borough 4
Fouls Committed: Southport 17, Stevenage Borough 14
Bookings: Southport 4, Stevenage Borough 1
Sent-Off: Southport 1, Stevenage Borough 0