Blyth Spartans 1 v 0 Southport

Peter Davenport is now facing his toughest period as Southport manager since he took over last year, as a run of three successive defeats threatens to push Southport out of the play-off positions. Despite dominating the first half, Southport took their foot off the gas completely in the second half, inviting Blyth into the game who sneaked home a winner six minutes from time.

Southport created the best of the opening chances in the first half, having a couple of clear chances to take the lead. Mark Duffy looked the most dangerous surging forward firing a shot from the edge of the box, which deflected off Peter Snowdon, which diverted the ball onto the cross-bar, with Neil Sorvel’s follow through going just wide. Moments later, Duffy again got the better of Snowdon, with his shot this time just skimming wide.

The home side failed to threaten Drench’s goal too much, with their most notable effort being as Rob Dale’s left wing cross found Chris McCabe at the back post, but with the angle ever so tight, the ball trickled into the side netting.

The second half was a complete turn-around, with Blyth inspired by Southport’s inability to kill the game off in the first half. Rob Dale took advantage of a lapse of concentration ten minutes into the half, taking the ball to the touch line, only to see Drench save his shot. Southport nearly were handed the lead as Martin Houlahan nearly headed into his own net, with the cleared ball away landing to Tony Gray who shot across goal, but once again Blyth continued to prod forward. The inevitable goal came with six minutes remaining as a free-kick was flapped away by Drench only to the feet of Chris McCabe who was on hand to blast the ball home from close range.

Southport desperately tried to seek an equaliser, with Matt Hocking delivering a long ball through to Mark Houghton, whose header was collected by Adam Bartlett, and in stoppage time Holland got the ball through to Gray, who was immediately charged down by two defenders who cleared the chance, and Southport’s chance of salvaging any points from a game they could have secured in the first half.