SOUTHPORT 1, ROCHDALE 0

The goal by Holmes at the seventeenth minute was sufficient to give Southport victory over Rochdale, on a treacherous Haig Avenue pitch. With better finishing the spectators would have had several more goals as a reward for their patronage on such a stormy afternoon.

Southport’s football in the first twenty minutes was excellent. They kept the ball on the ground, swung it from wing to wing, and moved with such speed that the Rochdale defence was extended to its fullest limits. Morton brought off a couple of well-judged saves and Beadnell lobbed a shot on to the bar, but all too often the home forwards preferred to make an extra pass or move an extra yard when a quick shot might have been better.

Astute prompting by wing halves Lynn and Murphy plus Southport’s sudden reliance on a short passing game enabled Rochdale to enjoy more of the play. Fortunately for the home side the visitors lacked inspiration near goal. It was not that their finishing was poor, shots were not forthcoming. Apart from an early effort by Anders which hit the post there was not a single Rochdale shot on the target. With Hitchen a passenger at outside-right in the second half, Southport were frequently hard-pressed but Taylor and his colleagues stood firm.

Holmes was the pick of the front line, always striving to use the ball to good advantage; his goal was an object lesson in chance-taking. The agile Morton stood no chance at all with a fierce shot into the top right-hand corner of the net.

Heavy Southport pressure had the Rochdale defence in difficulties. Holmes was inches wide with a header, and Morton, in the Rochdale goal, held shots by Prescott, Drury, and Holmes.

In Rochdale’s first raid Anders hit the bar and Gribben’s drive over from the rebound.

Holmes put Southport ahead with a terrific drive from just inside the area.

Half-time: Southport 1, Rochdale 0.

Although handicapped by an injury to left half Hilton, Southport continued to dominate and the Rochdale goal had many narrow escapes.

Morton made a brilliant save when he got his fingertips to a close-range drive by Drury. Rochdale never looked like getting an equaliser. Beadnell, the home leader, beat all opposition in an electrifying run only to drive wide.

Result: Southport 1, Rochdale 0.