Southport share spoils against title favourites Southport Visiter 19 Aug 2021
AHIGHLY entertaining afternoon of football saw Southport twice come from behind to draw 2-2 with one of the title favourites.
After a quiet opening spell it was Gloucester who took the lead in the 9th minute from a well worked set piece which deserved a goal even though it took a huge deflection to wrong foot Cam Mason in the Southport goal.
Southport came back strongly and equalised through a Marcus Carver penalty after a handball in the penalty area.
Carver made no mistake from the spot confidently blasting the ball home.
Gloucester were enjoying a good spell and they retook the lead in the 28th minute through Jordan Young.
Carver and Connor Woods both had chances to restore parity in the first half but The Sandgrounders went in to the break 2-1 down.
A sparkling second half performance after a shift in formation had the very appreciative home crowd willing the home side on. Chances came and went at will but it took a superb piece of Connor Woods magic in the 68th minute to get the home side back on level terms shooting past the ‘keeper from a tight angle. From then on it was virtually one way traffic with Southport going close on numerous occasions but they just couldn’t find a way past Cole in the Gloucester goal.
In the end Southport had to settle for a draw, a result that before the game we would have probably taken but after the 90 minute display the home side were left feeling the one point could easily have been converted to three.
The Southport side left the field to a standing ovation from the home faithful who had given the side tremendous encouragement throughout the game which was acknowledged by manager Liam Watson after the match.
Match report courtesy of Southport’s official club website
UNUSED SUBSTITUTES: McMillan, Watson and Munro. (Missing from the line-up was new signing Isaac Buckley-Ricketts who has slight hamstring pull and was not risked)
ATTENDANCE: 801
Carver made no mistake from the spot, blasting the ball home
Southport Visiter, 19th August 2021
Watson hails fans as Southport held Southport Visiter 19 Aug 2021 BY SCOTT ANDERSON
MANAGER Liam Watson was full of praise for Southport fans after his side claimed a point at home to Gloucester City on Saturday.
Gloucester took the lead from a clever set piece, but Southport equalised through a Marcus Carver penalty after a handball in the 18-yard box.
Jordan Young then put Gloucester ahead in the 28th minute, before a Connor Woods wondergoal levelled the score yet again.
Southport had numerous chances to claim all three points, but none were converted and the score remained 2-2 – to the disappointment of Watson.
Speaking to the club’s media channel after the match, Watson said: “100 per we dropped two points. I think the second half, we dominated it that much I can’t remember having a second half like it.
“I have got to say, the fans were immense. It was brilliant, the atmosphere was unbelievable and they stayed with us, they dragged us through.
“I think they loved the attitude, loved the application and liked the workrate – it’s everything the Southport fans like.
“It was there in abundance, a lot of flair, some really good football played.
“I am going home proud of them [the players] because they have done remarkably well today to come back. They’re young – some people are saying we took a big gamble going as young as we have, but Gloucester won’t be saying we took a gamble.
“You’ve got to give them a little bit of credit as well. They have done us on a corner, I know it was a mad deflection and it has gone in which is disappointing but the movement was good.
“What I will say: We must have had 30 set pieces in the last third of the pitch – and the keeper and the back four have dealt with it. And the quality going in was good, so you have got to give them credit.”
While Watson was disappointed not to claim all three points, he did see a number of positives in the match against a strong opposition.
He said: “You have got to remember they are a full-time team. I think we ran over them the last 15 minutes. The energy – Connor [Woods], Dylan [Vassallo], Josh [Hmami] – they were just relentless breaks.
“I thought Doug [Tharme] joined in, Chris Doyle knocked some brilliant diagonal balls out and [Adam] Anson came out and played through the lines.
“Jack Doyle was non-stop up and down the pitch, and Jordan Archer came on and should have scored but it has gone through his legs at the far post.
“Jack Bainbridge has had a great chance, Marcus has gone clean through, Dylan [Vassallo] should score, Connor [Woods] should score again and should score in the first half – lots and lots of chances.
“On the first day, I’m really pleased and you have got to give them credit because they had some really good footballers out there as well.”
Watson was full of praise for the ‘brilliant’ fans in the stadium, who spurred Southport on throughout the match.
“I have grown up at this football club,” said Watson. “I came here as a young manager and they have been on this journey with me all the way.
“I think they have seen the characteristics of what they would say is typically one of my sides today – loads of energy, loads of athleticism, asked big questions and flair in the final third.
“But they [the fans] were brilliant. To get 800 on the first day of the season against Gloucester, who are bringing no one, it’s a remarkable turn-out – especially after being away for so long.
“Actually, it’s the first game I’ve enjoyed in a long time. It’s just not the same [without fans].
“Football is about fans and about players. We all have our little bits to do, but for players – do stuff on the pitch. For fans – cheer them on. And today they dragged us on.
“It would have been a travesty if we didn’t come out with anything, I feel disappointed that we have only come out with a point!
“But definitely, they got behind us brilliantly.”
New Southport signing Josh Hmami made his debut against Gloucester, and – like Watson – he was disappointed to only come away with a point.
He said: “I thought it was a great debut. The only disappointing thing is, as everyone here knows, is that we should have come away with the three points.
“Especially in the second half, we were all over them. Connor [Woods] had a few [chances], Marcus [Carver] had a few, Jack Bainbridge [also] and that is just a few off the top of my head.
“We pinned them back for long periods of the game and I definitely feel like we should have got the three points.”
After making the jump to National League North football, Hmami said: “It really is a step up. I feel like the Cup games last season gave me an idea of what it is like to play against the higher teams and what it takes.
“And to come here in front of the home fans, they were class. They cheered us on right through the game – they definitely gave us that extra 10 per cent we needed.
“Without them we could have gone under at 2-1 but they got behind us, they carried on being supportive.
“It’s just a shame we didn’t get the three points for them.
“We could have come away with nothing at one point but to come from behind twice and saying that we should have won the game is a real positive.
“It’s our first game together as a new set of lads and I feel that we bonded really well – it’s a special group.”
Southport Visiter, 19th August 2021
Publication: Southport FC Website
Publication Date: 14/08/2021
Match Report – Southport FC Website – 14/08/2021
Southport 2 Gloucester City 2
Aug 14, 2021
A highly entertaining afternoon of football saw Southport twice come from behind to draw 2-2 with one of the title favourites.
After a quiet opening spell it was Gloucester who took the lead in the 9th minute from a well worked set piece which deserved a goal even though it took a huge deflection to wrong foot Cam Mason in the Southport goal.
Southport came back strongly and equalised through a Marcus Carver penalty after a handball in the. Carver made no mistake from the spot confidently blasting the ball home.
Gloucester were enjoying a good spell and they retook the lead in the 28th minute through Jordan Young.
Carver and Connor Woods both had chances to restore parity in the first half but The Sandgrounders went in to the break 2-1 down.
A sparkling second half performance after a shift in formation had the very appreciative home crowd willing the home side on. Chances came and went at will but it took a superb piece of Connor Woods magic in the 68th minute to get the home side back on level terms shooting past the ‘keeper from a tight angle. From then on it was virtually one way traffic with Southport going close on numerous occasions but they just couldn’t find a way past Cole in the Gloucester goal.
In the end Southport had to settle for a draw, a result that before the game we would have probably taken but after the 90 minute display the home side were left feeling the one point could easily have been converted to three.
The Southport side left the field to a standing ovation from the home faithful who had given the side tremendous encouragement throughout the game which was acknowledged by manager Liam Watson after the match.
Line Up : Mason, Oliver (Vassallo 46), Doyle J, Benjamin, Anson, Tharme, Woods, Carver (Archer 88) Doyle C, Hmami, Bainbridge
Unused Subs McMillan, Watson and Munro
Att 801
Missing from the line up today was new signing Isaac Buckley-Ricketts who has slight hamstring pull and was not risked this afternoon.
Match Report – OTS News – 14/08/21
The last time Southport played Gloucester City on the opening day, the Yellows lifted the Conference North trophy.Like 2009, Southport today found themselves 1-0 down in the opening ten minutes, with Matt McClure’s effortntaking a wicked deflection as it sailed past Southport keeper Cam Mason.And like 2009, Southport equalised shortly after going behind. Moments after scoring, McClure’s essentially handed Southport an equaliser, handling the ball with raised arms in the area, allowing Marcus Carver to send the Gloucester keeper the wrong w
ay.
After an opening flurry of goals however, it was Gloucester who started to take control of the game. Regularly finding space in the centre of the park, the visitors constantly cruised forward with ease.Southport had bright spells in the first half with some neat manuvres, but they were unable to contend with Gloucester, who used considerable gamesmanship with the referee to find an advantage, regularly dissecting every decision with the official at length.That advantage came on the 28th minute courtesy of Gloucester’s Jordan Young, who rolled the ball neatly into the far corner, helped by some statuesque defending.Moments earlier an excellent run from Connor Woods cruelly came to nothing. A skilfull run along the left wing left him with space and a choice between a steep-angled shot or a layoff to an arriving Jack Bainbridge. Woods, probably correctly, opted to pass, though Bainbridge’s movement saw the ball placed in behind him and cleared.Southport continued to probe through to the hour mark and nearly found success through several set pieces.Josh Hmami was unlucky to avoid a debut goal, narrowly sending his effort wife of the post, before forcing another save from Jake Cole on the hour mark. Shortly after, Chris Doyle nodded an excellent ball into space, with no-one in the right position to receive it.Another good run from Woods, with pirouettes to boot, was expertly dispatched to Bainbridge on the far side, who couldn’t get his shot on target.Southport’s best chance fell to Marcus Carver, who found himself one on one with Cole after a foul Hmami saw advantage played and the ball knocked into his path, drawing a fine save from Cole.It was Connor Woods who finally equalised, beautifully, for Southport on the 70 minute mark. Having drilled forward all afternoon, the winger was due a reward for his efforts. Steaming forward on the right hand edge of the area, defenders either side, Woods coolly slotted home into the bottom corner and wheeled away, arms aloft, without even breaking his stride.Tempers finally flared with the final ten minutes approaching after a foul from Hmami prompted raised fists from Tom Harrison, sparking a small confrontation, and players being carded. Ryan Galvin joined them shortly after for cynically hacking down an advancing Connor Woods.Southport will rue not claiming three points at the death. The Sandgrounders spent the final ten minutes peppering the Gloucester goal with shot after shot, but Liam Watson will still consider a point a solid return.Gloucester’s solid efficiency will likely see them end the campaign towards the top of the table though it wouldn’t be surprising if their lack of discipline, at times akin to a toddler levelling a tantrum towards their parents, regularly cost them points throughout the season.Southport can take confidence from the result, and the addition of Isaac Buckley-Ricketts, a stellar signing whose suprise omission was not explained by the club ahead of kick off, will inevitably make a huge difference.A championship, like the previous opening day game against Gloucester in 2009 may be a stretch too far, but Southport today showed evidence that they could be a match for anyone in the division on the right day.Southport starting lineup: Mason, Tharme, C Doyle, Anson, Oliver, J Doyle, Bainbridge, Benjamin (c), Hmami, Carver, WoodsSouthport substitutes: McMillan, Munro, Vassallo, Archer, WatsonGloucester starting lineup: Cole, Leadbitter, Galvin, Thomas, Piggott, Harrison, Robert, Dawson, Young, McClure, KingGloucester substitutes: Armstrong, O’Sullivan, McGilp, Di Segni
Publication: Southport FC Website
Publication Date: 14/08/2021
Match Report – southportfc.net – 14/08/2021
Southport 2 Gloucester City 2
Aug 14, 2021
A highly entertaining afternoon of football saw Southport twice come from behind to draw 2-2 with one of the title favourites.
After a quiet opening spell it was Gloucester who took the lead in the 9th minute from a well worked set piece which deserved a goal even though it took a huge deflection to wrong foot Cam Mason in the Southport goal.
Southport came back strongly and equalised through a Marcus Carver penalty after a handball in the. Carver made no mistake from the spot confidently blasting the ball home.
Gloucester were enjoying a good spell and they retook the lead in the 28th minute through Jordan Young.
Carver and Connor Woods both had chances to restore parity in the first half but The Sandgrounders went in to the break 2-1 down.
A sparkling second half performance after a shift in formation had the very appreciative home crowd willing the home side on. Chances came and went at will but it took a superb piece of Connor Woods magic in the 68th minute to get the home side back on level terms shooting past the ‘keeper from a tight angle. From then on it was virtually one way traffic with Southport going close on numerous occasions but they just couldn’t find a way past Cole in the Gloucester goal.
In the end Southport had to settle for a draw, a result that before the game we would have probably taken but after the 90 minute display the home side were left feeling the one point could easily have been converted to three.
The Southport side left the field to a standing ovation from the home faithful who had given the side tremendous encouragement throughout the game which was acknowledged by manager Liam Watson after the match.
2 - 1 v Peterborough Sports (H) 10/12/2024 
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