Southport 0 v 1 Alfreton Town

Southport’s un-defeated start of the season came to an abrupt stop at Haig Avenue, with Liam Watson not at all impressed with the performance of his side.

Both teams took a whilst to get themselves used to the conditions, with the pitch resting heavy on the far side, after the torrential rain over-night. The first goal chance fell to the visitors after a cross from the right wing fell to Paul Clayton, and he would have had a better chance if he had not tried to do over-head kick, which he missed, allowing the Southport defence to clear.

Robbie Booth was offered a glorious chance to open the scoring for Southport as the ball fell to him after a collision involving the Alfreton keeper on the edge of the box, with the ball going out to Booth, but he tried to place the ball into the empty net as the defence scrambled back, but the ball tricked wide of the target.

Alfreton broke the deadlock with ten minutes remaining in the first half as Jordan Hall beat the off-side trap down the left wing, getting the ball across to Leo Fortune-West who side kicked the ball into the net with his left foot.

Alfreton’s tactics in the second half frustrated Southport, with the Sandgrouders having to work hard to break through. Mark Duffy had a surge up from, beating the last defender, only to see his shot from just inside the area going over. Duffy was the main instigator for Southport, with a right wing cross going towards Matty McGinn at the back post, but his powerful header again just skimmed wide.

Ben Muirhead was clearly the main danger for Alfreton, and Southport needed to be on their guard when the pacey free-roled player worked the ball inside from the left wing, shooting from the edge of the area with the ball going narrowly wide.

Neil Robinson added a bit of danger from the left wing as he took the ball into the box from the touch line, stabbing the ball across to Michael Powell, but he lost his footing, with the ball being fired over the goal.

Earl Davis thought he had secured Southport’s equaliser with five minutes remaining as he blasted the ball through a crowd of players, after Neil Robinson and Michael Powell both tried to place the ball into the net, but his chance was ruled out thanks to an offside flag, which had been raised during the build up.

But that would have been unjustified to Alfreton, who deserved the points on offer.