Southport 2 v 2 Nuneaton Borough

Peter Davenport saw this game as two points dropped rather than one gained, in another game which Southport could have sealed by half-time. A crucial period before the half time break gave the visitors the impetus, as another conceded penalty placed Port under pressure.

Southport kicked towards the Jack Carr stand in the first half, and created the first of the early chances. Chris Lever got a dangerous ball into the box for Mark Houghton, but the Borough defence did well to divert the ball out for a corner, from which the ball came out to Paul Barratt, whose speculative shot from 20 yards sailed over the bar. Moments later Mark Houghton was set free with only Acton to beat, but he took one touch too many, allowing the Borough keeper to read the danger, collecting the ball well on the edge of his box.

Nuneaton did threaten, and looked dangerous when they pressured the Southport defence. They nearly opened the scoring as Craig McIlwain played the ball goal-ward towards Jordan Stepien who forced Southport to clear for a corner.

However, it was Southport who continued to press, with Neil Prince feeding a ball in from the left which went through to Neil Robinson whose header was pressured away for a corner. Minutes later Robinson was gifted another close-range chance as Mark Houghton dispatched a ball, but the tight angle was too much.

Southport took the lead as Nuneaton lost their concentration as Paul Barratt played a deep left wing cross high into the box, where Neil Robinson turned his defender, heading the ball home from close range. Southport had chance to double their lead in first half stoppage time as a free-kick through to Chris Lever was delicately played through to Tony Gray, who fired his chance over from close range.

Deep into first half time stoppage time, Andy Brown beat the off-side trap running into the Southport box, where he was challenged by Drench, with the referee awarding a penalty from some distance. Brown recovered enough to take the penalty, wrong-footing Drench as the ball was slotted low to Drench’s right, with the half-time whistle going as soon as Southport kicked off again.

The second half was delayed, kicking off at 4.10. The game failed to ignite, with Southport searching for an opening. The most notable early chance for Southport came as Paul Barratt played the ball through to Chris Holland, who got the ball high across the area towards Neil Robinson, who was just beaten to the ball by the Nuneaton defence.

Southport lost their momentum and their concentration, gifting Nuneaton their second goal as Holland lost possession to Andy Brown who tried to get the ball through to Matty Collins, but Danny Holmes in trying the clear the danger slotted the ball into his own net.

Southport equalised with ten minutes remaining as the home team desperately prodded forward. Paul Barratt put the ball into the box aiming towards Mark Houghton, but the keeper pushed the ball out to Neil Prince who buried the ball home from the left side of the area.