We’ve met before: Gateshead

Today will the 106th competitive meeting between Southport and Gateshead, with the first encounter taking place on 8th November 1930. A Hatrick from Archie Waterston ensured the points were brought home for the Sandgrounders and the line-up was: Billy Baker, Jack Little, Ted Robinson, George Wyness, Billy Pickering, Tommy Holmes, Ralph Hills, Archie Waterston, Joe Roberts, Paddy McConnell, Jimmy Cowen,  

The first time our North East opponents visited Haig Avenue was in March 1931. 3644 saw another Archie Waterston goal and a 1-0 win. Waterston would go on to break the clubs goalscoring record in that his first season with the club scoring 38 in 37 appearances! Not bad for a player who only turned up in October having advertised looking for a club in the Athletic News!

Our last match with Gateshead was at the International stadium in November 2020. The result, although officially scratched from the record books due to the curtailment and cancellation of the League was a 1-4 defeat for Southport, behind closed doors. It was in fact a former player in Ged Garner, a loanee from Fleetwood, who inflicted most of the damage with a 10 minute hat-trick, putting an end to an unbeaten start away from home for the Sandgrounders

Southport Line-Up: Daniel Hanford, Jack Doyle, Mohamud Ali, Matty Challoner, Jack Bainbridge, Adam Anson, David Morgan, Charlie Oliver, Marcus Carver, Niall Watson, Connor Woods 
Subs: Tony McMillan (GK), George Newell, Dean Winnard (Mohamud Ali), Jordan Archer (Connor Woods), Dylan Vassallo (Matty Challoner)
Goals: Jordan Archer

GARNER SCORES THREE IN HUGE VICTORY
The Non-League Football Paper
22 Nov 2020
By Jeff Bowron

SOUTHPORT’S unbeaten away record was left in tatters by a native Merseysider.

On loan Fleetwood frontman Ged Garner helped himself to a 10- minute hat- trick to floor the Sandgrounders.

Garner’s first was a beauty on the stroke of half- time and he quickly added two more after the break.

The 22- year- old then earned a 56th minute penalty that was dispatched by defender Alex Nicholson.

An outgunned Southport finished the game on the front foot and were rewarded with Jordan Archer’s late header.

Gateshead lost captain Nicky Deverdics in the warm- up and defender George Smith in the first half.

The Tynesiders had the better of a tight opening 45 minutes, though Niall Watson fired an early warning for Port.

Marcus Carver passed up a chance for Port, when he headed over close in from David Morgan’s cross.

Olley’s diagonal ball then saw Garner fire a left- foot rocket into the far corner from the edge of the box.

It was a game- breaker as the Sandgrounders shipped three more goals early in the second period.

Another powerful Garner strike from Jordan Preston’s set- up beat former Heed man Hanford at his near post.

Good link- up play between Jordan Cook and Danny Greenfield then saw Garner claim the match ball with a cool finish.

The Cod man was then brought down in the box by Mo Ali and Nicholson drilled the spot kick into the top corner.

Archer headed home Morgan’s back- post cross for Port’s late consolation goal but it wasn’t enough to salvage anything for the visitors.

Overall, the record at home reads Played 53, Won 25, Drew 10 and Lost 18, with 84 goals scored and 65 against.

Many players have played for both clubs including Armour Ashe, Colin Beardshaw, Richard Brodie, Ged Garner, Lee Ellison, Harry Hawkins, Matt Hocking and Andrai Jones.