Southport 2 v 1 Blyth Spartans

Despite Blyth having the first chance of the game as Richard Pell headed narrowly wide from a right-wing free-kick, Southport then pressed heavily to get an opening for themselves. Tony Gray seized upon a loose clearance from Andy Leeson only to see his shot fall narrowly wide, and then moments later Earl Davis laid the ball off kindly for Kilheeney, whose low shot forced a good save from Bell who pushed the ball away for a corner. Matty McGinn had a good opportunist shot just skim wide, as did Mark Duffy who tried his luck from 30 yards a few minutes later.


Southport took the lead from a Mark Duffy corner as James Connolly headed the ball back across the goal, and with Mark Bell caught in no-mans land, Earl Davis guided the ball through to Kevin Lee who blasted the ball home into the unchartered net. Southport had another couple of chances to increase their lead moments later as Matty McGinn’s right-wing free-kick went through to Michael Powell at the back post, who shot towards the top right corner was well saved by Mark Bell, as the ball went out for a corner. From the corner, the ball fell to Earl Davis right in front of goal, but the defender was unable to control the ball, with the ball going well wide.

With Southport’s chances squandered, Blyth pulled level right on the stroke of half-time as a free-kick mis-read by Tony McMillan allowing Andrew Leeson to strike the ball home from close range.


Rob Dale proved a continuous nuisance to the Southport defence into the second half, as a long throw down the left-wing released the tall striker, but under pressure was unable to properly connect to his shot, allowing Tony McMillan to collect the ball at his second attempt.

After a frustrating period of play for Southport, they started once again to threaten the Blyth goal, only to be thwarted in quick succession by Mark Bell. The Blyth keeper did well to thwart the advancing Earl Davis from a corner, punching the ball well-clear, then moments later denying Tony Gray of a spectacular over head shot as the ball was guided just over the cross bar.

Earl Davis saw another chance go astray from close range as Mark Duffy’s shot was cleared away from the near post.


The ever dangerous visitors forced a fantastic double save from Tony McMillan as Jed Dalton and Andy Leeson both saw their close range efforts pushed away.


Southport kept working to re-gain the lead, having a good chance as Neil Robinson flicked the ball into the path of Mark Duffy, who switched the ball over to the un-marked Robbie Booth, who was just unable to convert his chance just inside the area. The lead was finally regained with four minutes remaining as Neil Robinson played the ball into the path of Tony Gray, who shot from just inside the area, with the ball taking a slight deflection as it entered the back of the net.

Blyth provided Southport with a few late worries, as two successive late corners caused problems, with Robbie Booth clearing off the line from Phil Bell, but there was a collective sigh of relief around Haig Avenue as the referee finally blew for full time.