Southport’s brief flirtation with the comparative big time of the FA Cup ended with their 2-0 defeat by Port Vale in the first round of the competition but manager Micky Taylor’s part timers were quite simply superb!
Vale went ahead eight minutes after the break but Southport matched their opponents in almost all aspects of the game and played just as much football as their Third Division opponents. It had been feared that the young team may freeze but not a bit of it. Chances were created but the final killer touch was all that was missing. Both teams were given a standing ovation at the end of the game which was later featured on Match Of The Day.