Saturday’s trip to the Buck’s Head Stadium brought the Sandgrounders their third consecutive 1-1 draw in the Nationwide Conference, a point that was thoroughly deserved on the day. The Telford pitch looked in remarkably fine condition after the deluges of recent times, but a fierce end-to-end wind did its best to ruin things. But it failed as both sides played some neat passing and an end-to-end encounter kept supporters of both sides on edge right to the final whistle.

In the first half Southport attacked with the wind at their back but as often happens the wind carried the ball away from the front-line on many occasions. Southport’s best opportunity before the interval fell to midfielder Steve Jones, who directed a powerful downward header from a free-kick towards the bottom right corner, but Edward in the home goal produced a superb save to keep the scoreline blank. The home side then went equally close at the other end as Mark Quayle spun in the box to hook a fierce volley over the bar from just eight yards.

Referee Desmond did well to keep the game flowing with a number of good advantages, and he had little choice with a couple of bookings, one to each side, with Barry Jones being the Southport culprit with a mis-timed but not nasty challenge. The half-time whistle didn’t stop the end-to-end play, and for the third game running Southport conceded a goal early in the second period. It was in the 51st minute where the ‘Port defence failed to clear a corner with Jim Bentley, the home side’s big centre-half, involved as the ball came over and there to apply the finishing touch from a few yards out with a cleanly struck shot.

But the Sandgrounders struck back in five minutes and again Steve Jones was there with his head, connecting with a corner and powering home from close range. Jones who put in a Man of the Match performance on the day deserved the goal.

In the remainder of the game both sides built promising attacks but both ‘keepers had only one vital save to make. It was Dickinson’s turn first with yet another point-winning spectacular save. After blocking one effort the ball ran to the other side of the goal and from just 8 yards out Steve Palmer chose to side foot towards the open goal. Steve Dickinson leapt to his feet and flung himself to his right to make a sensational stop that would have had Messrs Hansen and Lawrenson raving for hours on the television. At the other end it was down to the last few minutes when Southport broke free and a neat Simon Parke pass into the path of substitute Tony Sullivan saw his rising drive from 15 yards well held by Edwards. A shot was the obvious option for Sullivan but Dean Howell had broken totally free and unmarked at the back post and a square ball may have produced a better result.

Two minutes of injury time failed to break the deadlock and Manager Phil Wilson was fairly happy with the well-won point for the ‘Port. Wilson’s options will improve next week as Steve Whitehall should have recovered from his ankle injury and Chris Lane will return from suspension.