’Port quick to put FA Cup exit behind them

Southport Visiter

22 Sep 2022

BY MATTY HURST

SOUTHPORT bounced back from the disappointment of FA Cup defeat at Darlington with a resounding victory against Longridge Town in the Lancashire Challenge Trophy.

‘Port ran out 7-1 winners in a game which had a little bit of everything for the 256 fans in attendance.

The contest started with a flurry of chances for the home side and after coming close on a couple of occasions Southport took the lead in the 10th minute when a delicate ball through the defence by Niall Watson fell to Tyler Walton and he sat the keeper down, took it round him and calmly tapped in from close range.

Southport dominated the first half and in the 37th doubled their lead through a Charlie Munro worldie from 25 yards out which flew past the Longridge keeper and into the right corner of the goal.

The first half finished 2-0 to the home side with a lot of positives coming from the performance which followed on into the second half.

Southport made it 3-0 just two minutes after the restart when Connor Woods tapped in from close range.

Longridge managed to pull a goal back shortly after in the 54th minute when Gourley headed home following a corner to make it 3-1.

But any hope of a comeback was taken away four minutes later after Enock Lusiama flicked on an inswinging corner to restore Southport’s three-goal lead.

In the 63rd minute Woods found himself in behind the defence following a long ball by Keenan Quansah, allowing him to set up Watson to make it 5-1 to Southport.

Chances dried up for a while but the home side’s scoring wasn’t over and in the 77th minute Quansah made himself free in the box and headed into the corner for Southports sixth of the game.

After a few good moves, Souhtport pushed on for their seventh and it came through a well worked move being finished off by

Watson in the 83rd minute.

Longridge had the chance of a second consolation goal in the 88th minute when they were awarded a penalty.

However, Spencer McDermott saw his spot kick saved by substitute keeper George Goudie on his first ever senior appearance.

The game finished 7-1 in the end but despite all the goals the deserved plaudits go to George

Goudie following his impact on his first senior appearance for the club and he quite rightly enjoyed the moment to the full, gaining a standing ovation at the end of the game. A great moment for George.

Southport are back at home on Saturday as they try to turn around their league form with a game against Leamington which will prove a sterner test for The Sandgrounders.*