Jack’s the lad as Port see out the storm

The Non-League Football Paper

By Hamish Arnold

SOUTHPORT took an early lead, then went behind before nicking all three points late on away at Bishop’s Stortford. Josh Hmami’s cross was deflected by Blues debutant Kyran Clements into the path of Michael O’Neill, who didn’t know much about his goal as the ball hit him and looped over goalkeeper and new captain Jack Giddens into the net in the fourth minute. Andre Godfrinne equalised midway through the first half at the RDA Stadium, picking up the ball with his back to goal from Ollie Peters’ pass, he turned and fired low into the bottom-left corner from 25 yards, for his first league goal, and his first at home for Stortford. There was an early goal after the break as well, with Gio McGregor’s fine solo strike on his home debut, cutting inside off the left wing, going past two and arrowing his effort home. After setting up the first, Hmami levelled, sweeping home a first-time shot from a right-wing cut-back into the bottom-right corner. Jack Bainbridge came off the bench and two minutes later bagged the winner, Marcus Carver’s left-wing cross wasn’t dealt with by the hosts’ defence and Bainbridge slid in at the back post on 82 minutes, with the visitors able to see out the remaining minutes for the win. STAR MAN: Harry Flowers (Southport) ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★