Southport 3 v 0 Burscough

Southport are once again looking like serious Blue Square North title challengers after a convincing 3-0 victory over struggling neighbours Burscough at Haig Avenue.

Although the visitors stifled Southport for the first twenty minutes, looking dangerous with Ryan Wade’s corner going through to Michael Yates who shot over the target and Ross Lloyd firing over from 20 yards, it was a change of tactic that proved fruitful for Liam Watson.

Robbie Booth’s move into the striker role caused real problems for the Burscough defence. Booth’s surge forward nearly caused Tony Evans to slice into his own goal, being relieved to see the ball go wide for a corner and a long Tony McMillan goal kick landing kindly for Ciaran Kilheeney who laid the ball off for Booth, forcing a good save from Kyle Clancy. From the resultant Booth corner, Adam Flynn rose above the defence to head the ball down into the goal.

Brian Moogan nearly added to the Southport score-line as Shaun Whalley placed a dangerous ball in from the right just before the break, but his blushes were saved as his clearance just skimmed over, but the second goal was duly rewarded within 30 seconds of the second half as Whalley whipped a ball into the box from the right wing to Matty McGinn who smothered the ball home from close range.

Ryan Wade showed a glimmer of hope for the visitors as he capitalised on a Dominic Morley error, sprinting to the touch line, only to fire the ball across goal, with no other Burscough players forward enough to touch the ball home.

Whalley was nearly rewarded for his second half display by hitting the post, but down at the other end Burscough had a header from a corner cleared off the line with twenty minutes remaining. Southport remained dominant, with Kevin Leadbetter trying to cash in on Kyle Clancy being off his line, but his shot went wide of the target from distance. Leadbetter continued where his predecessor left off in working the third goal as he beat the offside trap, playing a low ball across goal to Allan Smart who comfortably slotted the ball home from close range to seal the points for the Sandgrounders.