PORT COME OUT ON TOP IN REMATCH OF RIVALS

The Non-League Football Paper

By James Houghton

STAR MAN: Niall Watson (Southport)

ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★

TWO teams who are familiar with each other after playing in the league the week before provided a cagey opening with few chances. The game sparked into life in the 33rd minute with some excellent interplay between David Morgan and Niall Watson seeing the latter put in a great cross that Mikey O’Neill finished from six yards out. South Shields had earlier gone close when Jordy Mongoy rounded Chris Renshaw in the home goal but slipped on the wet surface. The second goal came on 39 minutes when a delightful Morgan free-kick was headed in by home skipper Adam Anson, looping over goalkeeper Myles Boney. Both goals were celebrated with a show of the 78 shirt in memory of Southport’s life president Sam Shrouder, who passed away last Sunday. It took just three minutes for Southport to increase the lead when, after some neat approach play by O’Neill, Watson was calmness personified, taking his time before hammering the ball from 12 yards. Southport dominated the second period and it played with great assurance and could have increased the lead on several occasions. The icing on the Southport cake came in the 82nd minute when Josh Hmami was fouled in the area and Dec Evans despatched the penalty.