Southport returned empty handed from the first ever visit to Peterborough Sports Bee Arena going down 2-1, a defeat that saw the home side complete a double over the travelling Sandgrounders.

It was a very scrappy game played in blustery conditions with intermittent showers on a sloping pitch and not conducive to good football.

The game wasn’t helped by a very whistle happy referee who seemed determined to stop play at every opportunity and get his yellow cards out to the visiting players as soon as he could.

It seemed inevitable at half time that there would be a red card and so it proved as Keenan Quansah saw red for the second time this season.

Sports took the lead in the 42nd minute after indecision in the Southport defence allowed Sembie-Ferris to fire home.

Southport’s best chance came when Connor Heath powered through the home backline and appeared to be pulled back before he got his shot away which the home ‘keeper did well to push round the post.

Not the best first half but there were a couple of half chances that gave us hope for the second period.

The game turned in the 57th minute with Liam making substitutions to give the visitors more threat up front  taking Adam Anson off.

Two minutes later and Southport were down to 10 men. It was difficult to actually see what happened but it appeared that Quansah was fouled but the ref saw it differently and he was off.

Sembie-Ferris increased the lead after a mix up in the Southport defence and it was an uphill battle from then on.

Southport did get one back through Chris Doyle in the 88th minute and had a couple of half chances to snatch a point but it was not to be.

5 yellow cards including one for the Assistant Manager Terry McPhillips and one red in a game that was played in a good spirit and was not worthy of the cards.

Line Up : McMillan, C Doyle, Anson (Watson 57), Evans, Munro, Archer (Oliver 69), Heath, Quansah, Hmami ( Woods 57), Bainbridge, Carberry.

Attendance 281

Media Man Of The Match: Michael Carberry