Stalybridge Celtic 2 v 2 Southport

Despite creating a few early chances, with Mark Duffy striking a first minute low show, giving Paddy Gamble an early touch to the ball, and Duffy providing a headed chance for Tony Gray, Southport were dealt a blow as Matt Hocking had to be replaced after taking a knock. The news got worse for the Sandgrounders just minutes later as Kevin Lee pushed Lee Ellington in the box, with Andrew Smart blasting the resultant penalty kick into the top left corner of the goal, leaving Drench with little chance.

Southport did have half a chance to quickly equalise as Neil Prince’s free-kick was firmly headed narrowly over his bar by Garry Burke. Southport did pull level just after the half hour mark as Paul Barratt surged forward, being taken down in the box by Ashley Woolliscroft with Mark Duffy shooting low into the bottom left corner of the goal.

Southport were again pegged back five minutes later as some individual skill undid the challenge of Danny Holmes. Carlos Roca cut inside the defender, taking the ball onto his right foot, firing an unstoppable shot into the top left corner of the goal.

Neil Prince started to get into the game more so delivering some dangerous balls into the box, with his first ball into the head of Robinson, who headed straight at Gamble, and moments later Prince whipped in a low ball across goal, which just skimmed beyond the post with Robinson arriving just too late at the back post to touch the ball home.

Right at the end of the half, Mark Duffy appeared to pull a muscle in his back, forcing Mark Houghton into the action as the Southport player got stretchered off.

With just two and a half minutes on the clock in the second half, one of the sets of floodlights on the far side failed, forcing both teams off the pitch for half an hour. Upon resuming the game, Southport once again equalised as Tony Gray played the ball into the box where the pressurised Mark Houghton did well to stumble the ball over the line from close range.

Southport had a few chances to grab all the points as Tony Gray delivered a few dangerous ball into the box, the most notable effort being as Robinson skied his close range chance with five minutes remaining.