After experiencing more trouble on their travels than Sven Goran Eriksson, Southport are beginning to operate with greater prudence.

Shrewdly obtaining four points from two potentially daunting quick-fire fixtures, the Sandgrounders have now gone 411 minutes since last conceding a goal away from home. And although it would be premature to declare Liam Watson’s side have turned the corner, they are constructing firm foundations on which to mount refreshed hope of a possible escape.

Outwitted and outfoxed with embarrassing recurrence, Southport suffered five successive reversals on the road prior to their FA Trophy stalemate at Halifax Town in December. But replacing carelessness with consistency, the Sandgrounders have formed a newly-found resilience in the face of adversity and now enter an enormously significant period with greater encouragement.

The bad news for potential survival aspirations is that Tamworth and Scarborough, who began the evening within touching distance of Watson’s side, both recorded shock away victories. But with just seven points now separating six sides, matters near the trap door are precariously tight – thus multiplying the significance of Kidderminster Harriers’ visit to Haig Avenue on Saturday.




York City’s Bootham Crescent

It may not have been pretty, but another unified team effort from the Conference’s basement boys was enough to thwart eighth-place York City with relative simplicity. Only once, in the dying embers, did a durable defence lose its composure, having limited their hosts to speculative pot-shots throughout the match.

Dominic Morley and Steve Pickford added a tenacious resilience to the Sandgrounders’ assertive midfield, while Carl Baker and Liam Blakeman offered added outlets that allowed ‘Port to play with more options. Had their attacking players showed more potency when chances arose, then Southport could have returned home with a greater reward, but the lack of penetration shows exactly why Watson is in a hurry to acquire further reinforcements.

Although York are currently on a downward spiral, ‘Port manager Watson will take great satisfaction in seeing his men impressively stifle the side that cantered to victory so emphatically at Haig Avenue earlier this season. Playing with a three-pronged attack, City lacked inventiveness and created relatively few openings in a match that was slow and sloppy throughout.





After just two minutes, Baker failed to make the most of a hesitant York defence by heading Chris Lane’s free-kick wide of the target, while Neil Robinson wasted a through ball following smart approach play from Morley and Fitzgerald.

Although Mark Convery almost capitalised on indecision from Lane, the Sandgrounders began competently and wasted a further opportunity on fifteen minutes when Blakeman, again prominent in a diamond-shape midfield, fluffed his lines after emerging unmarked at the back post.

Playing in front of their lowest crowd this season, City’s strongest period of the match came midway through the first half, forcing goalkeeper Steve Dickinson into two scrambling stops after Clayton Donaldson had shot narrowly wide.

On thirty minutes, Darren Dunning’s blistering 25-yard free-kick was smartly repelled by the visiting ‘keeper, before Tcham N'Toya saw another long-range effort collected at the second attempt with Dave Merris waiting to pounce.

As proceedings petered out, Donaldson again shot wide after being played through by Dunning, while Leadbetter’s ambitious effort and a header from Earl Davis both sailed over for Southport prior to the break.





In a match of fine margins, the second period never progressed beyond gentle sparring, with both sides re-emerging reluctant to give much away and lacking the class capable of landing a killer blow.

Five minutes after restarting, Baker forced Chris Porter into a decent save from eighteen-yards, before the York goalkeeper was quick off his line to smother at the feet of Robinson.

Southport held firm in a goalmouth scramble that eventually saw defender Mark Hotte shoot over, while defender Fitzgerald recovered well to deny the otherwise ineffectual Joe O’Neil. As manager Billy McEwan tried to freshen his stale side, substitute Andy Bishop was denied by Neil Fitzhenry, who also blocked an effort from Dunning.

Robinson and Baker both forced ‘keeper Porter into action as the end neared, but the Sandgrounders were almost made to pay for some carelessness with three minutes remaining, only for Bishop’s glancing header whistle tantalisingly wide after a cross from Panther.


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

(Alan Jones)


Groundstaff remove covers on the pitch prior to kick-off





Southport.gb.com Match Facts:

Southport: (4-4-2) 1. Steve Dickinson, 19. Chris Lane, 6. Earl Davis, 4. Neil Fitzhenry, 3. Jerome Fitzgerald, 5. Carl Baker (15. Michael Powell ’90), 10. Dominic Morley, 2. Steve Pickford, 17. Liam Blakeman, 7. Kevin Leadbetter, 8. Neil Robinson (9. Nick Rogan ’89).
Unused Substitutes: 15. Jamie Speare, 20. Matthew McGinn, 28. Michael Stringfellow.

Referee: A. Haines

Attendance: 2,176

Southport.gb.com Southport Man of the Match: 10. Dominic Morley

Final Score: York City 0, Southport 0
Possession: York City 51%, Southport 49%
Shots on Target: York City 4, Southport 5
Shots off Target: York City 2, Southport 8
Corners: York City 2, Southport3
Fouls Committed: York City 18, Southport 11
Bookings: York City 0, Southport 2
Sent-Off: York City 0, Southport 0