The sense of missed opportunity has been prevalent for Southport during the early stages of this campaign, but having left the KitKat Crescent on Saturday evening with an unexpected point, the feeling was more of relief.

Such was the intensity of pressure that the Sandgrounders at times were forced to endure, the outcome should have been considerably more damaging. Fending off a bombardment of shots during the first half in particular and hanging on at the end, they were indebted to a string of saves from Ryan Robinson and the resolute defending of Paul Martin and Michael Powell for keeping York City at bay.

But having spent the majority of the match in front and emerged from the most severe onslaught with their lead still intact before being pegged back only by a Lee Hoolickin own goal, the result could quite easily have further favoured the visiting side.


The main stand at the KitKat Crescent


The KitKat Crescent

After the pitiful showing against Kidderminster Harriers in their previous match, it was certainly heartening to see another reshuffled Southport side perform with a pride and determination that ultimately secured their tenth point of the season.

Although the Sandgrounders have now conceded on nine occasions in their last four outings and are without a clean sheet this month, their new central defensive partnership of Martin and Powell performed admirably against a shrewd and sharp York attack and undoubtedly deserve another opportunity to impress.

In an entertainingly expansive encounter, the hosts were strong in midfield and showed the power to attack from all angles, with strikers Clayton Donaldson and the industrious Craig Farrell particularly dangerous.

Having displayed the ability to dig deep and hold on, it should now provide Paul Cook’s side with a platform on which to build during a run that sees four of their next five matches played at Haig Avenue.





The Sandgrounders took the lead after just 18 seconds, as defensive hesitancy and a miscued clearance from goalkeeper Tom Evans presented Joe Fowler with the opportunity to free Tony Gray, who slotted the ball home from a tight angle having rounded the home stopper with ease.

But York’s response was so forceful that it meant their equaliser on 20 minutes became inevitable. Frontman Farrell forced an interception from the authoritative Robinson after a pass from Donaldson, before being denied by the recovering Hoolickin and then releasing Martyn Woolford to shoot wide.

Neal Bishop failed to find the target, while Lewis McMahon provided a firm test of Robinson’s reactions with a low drive. The Southport ‘keeper also produced a splendid stop to repel Donaldson, whose incisive pass across the penalty area allowed Farrell to net the composed finish that drew the hosts level.





The most disturbing sight of the afternoon came when Mark Boyd was forced off just after the half-hour having suffered a shin gash following a wild lunge from Darren Craddock. It was one of three reckless challenges in the concluding stages of the first half that was fortunate to have received only a caution, as Liam Blakeman later cropped Anthony Lloyd, before McMahon was felled by Fowler.

Although goalscorer Farrell was thwarted by Powell and then saw a spectacular effort curl agonisingly across the target, the hosts lost much of their impetus once they had levelled, allowing Southport to regain the lead.

After good work by Gray, Blakeman netted a sublime strike from 15-yards, which arrowed into the top left-hand corner and beyond the reach of ‘keeper Evans on 34 minutes.



Defender Martin deflected wide a shot on the turn from York’s Woolford after neat individual play, while Bishop headed over Steve Bowey’s resulting corner. But credit must go to the Southport rearguard, who limited their opponents to significantly less chances in the second period.

Gray had a tame effort saved by ‘keeper Evans and Blakeman flashed a drive wide for Southport, while at the other end, Farrell shot off target and substitute Mark Convery was denied by Martin.

A rasping drive from Woolford shaved the crossbar, but just as it looked as though the visitors had done enough to clinch victory, Hoolickin headed into his own net with 15 minutes remaining. Bowey got a glaqncing touch on Woolford’s centre, which was flicked beyond ‘keeper Robinson by the Southport defender.

The Sandgrounders stopper was forced to deny Convery late on after Donaldson had shot wide.

(York City 2 - 2 Southport - Southport.gb.com)

* Match photographs courtesy of Rob Urwin, www.southportfcstats.co.uk









Southport.gb.com Match Facts:

Southport: (4-4-2) 1. Ryan Robinson, 15. Stephen Rowland (2. Chris Lane ’55), 16. Paul Martin, 4. Michael Powell, 3. Lee Hoolickin, 8. Liam Blakeman, 6. Mark Boyd (11. James Olsen ’32), 19. Joe Fowler (22. Awen Douglas ’66), 17. Alex Smith, 10. Dino Maamria, 9. Tony Gray.
Unused Substitutes: 12. John Bagnall, 18. Mark Jackson.

Referee: P. Quinn

Attendance: 2,446 (Including 142 away fans)

Southport.gb.com Southport Man of the Match: 1. Ryan Robinson

Final Score: York City 2, Southport 2
Possession: York City 59%, Southport 41%
Shots on Target: York City 9, Southport 4
Shots off Target: York City 6, Southport 0
Corners: York City 11, Southport 0
Fouls Committed: York City 7, Southport 12
Bookings: York City 1, Southport 4
Sent-Off: York City 0, Southport 0



Manager Paul Cook (right) arrives with Dino Maamria


The injured Carl Baker arrives alongside kitman Brain Anderson


Southport fan Rob Urwin outside the KitKat Crescent’s main entrance