2004/05 - Match No. 46
Nationwide North
Tuesday, March 1st, 2005
Southport 3, Alfreton Town 1
Report by Gordon Foster (Mansfield CHAD)
TITLE favourites Southport held too many aces for severly depeleted Alfreton at Haig Avenue on Tuesday night.
The Reds’ miserable run of results continued despite another gritty showing.
But they were so under-strength that they could take just four substitutes - only David Holmes and Stephen Woolley regular first team squad members.
Mark Sale, Carl Bradshaw and Matt Fisher were all absent from the already injury-hit side which played Droylsden four days earlier, and although John Knapper managed to see out the 90 minutes, even he was taken to hospital afterwards for an x-ray on a leg injury - it certainly grows no better on that front.
Before Southport took a 24th-minute lead, the Reds had probably created more chances than they did throughout the 90 against Droylsden.
But they were caught cold and conceded a second less than a minute after the interval, and although the impressive Luke Foster got one back, the outcome was put beyond Alfreton in the 72nd minute.
The Reds began brightly with Emeka Nwadike winning an early corner, but in the ensuing play Mick Godber over-ran the ball.
Southport’s first real threat in the eighth minute saw Neil Robinson’s strong run into the box ended by Foster’s well-timed tackle.
And two minutes later Lee Butler produced a flying save to keep out Carl Baker’s effort after Terry Fearns’ excellent through ball.
Again Nwadike’s persistence won a corner which the Reds failed to utilise, before Foster and Butler, making his 100th appearance, combined to shut out star striker Fearns.
But Southport got their noses in front in the 24th minute. Neil Robinson fed Kevin Leadbetter who appeared to have over-run, but he recovered, and Robinson had made ground to glance home a header off the return cross.
Fearns unaccountably tapped the ball straight at Butler when he ran clear four minutes later, probably in the mistaken belief that play had been called back for offside.
Paul Cooper’s long range effort was too high as Alfreton tried to respond.
And, as the half entered stoppage time, Ian Robinson’s corner was flicked on by Nwadike for Peter Duffield whose overhead shot flew wide.
Two minutes into stoppage time Foster made a great challenge on Neil Robinson, with the hosts yelling for a penalty as Robinson failed to keep his feet. As he stumbled, he clattered into Cooper, who needed attention before he could resume.
Within 42 seconds of the restart Southport doubled their advantage. The Reds looked to have been caught cold as Neil Robinson put Leadbetter through and, with only Butler to beat, he made no mistake.
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But Alfreton cut the deficit back to one five minutes later.
Ben Chapman’s free kick some 28 yards out found Duffield on the edge of the box. The striker’s shot was charged down, but Foster was on hand to pick up the pieces and put away the rebound.
Fearns was unlucky not to restore the Sandgrounders’ two-goal cushion in the 63rd minute.
His shot on the turn from the edge of the area hit the inside of the post, and was cleared for a corner, from which Farrell Kilbane’s glancing header went wide.
Duffield was close to an equaliser three minutes later, shooting narrowly wide after Mick Godber’s quickly-taken free kick rebounded off Jerome Fitzgerald.
However, when another goal did arrive on 72 it was at the wrong end for the Reds.
A flowing move out of the Southport defence saw Fearns and Neil Robinson involved along the right, and Robinson’s final pass again left Leadbetter with only Butler to beat, which he did so coolly.
Grant Brown’s looping header onto Duffield’s free kick landed on top of the bar as the Reds strove for a way back.
But it was Southport who finished the game the stronger.
Steve Pickford cut in from the right and fired over from 25 yards, and Butler did well to save from substitute Steve Daly.
And, in the closing minute, Brown did well to clear the danger at the expense of an unproductive corner, as Neil Robinson’s header onto a Daly cross almost caused problems at the back.
MATCH DETAILS
SOUTHPORT: Dickinson, Pickford, Fitzgerald, Kilbane, Fitzhenry, Morley (Powell 88), Baker, Price (Williams 34), Fearns (Daly 78), N. Robinson, Leadbetter. Subs not used: Lowe, Davis.
ALFRETON: Butler, Teather, Chapman, Foster, Brown, Nwadike, I. Robinson (Holmes 79), Knapper, Goddard, Duffield, Cooper. Subs not used: Woolley, Thompson, Saxby.
REFEREE: Jez Simpson of Carnforth.
ATTENDANCE: 704.
SCORERS: Southport - N. Robinson 24; Leadbetter 46, 72. Alfreton - Foster 51.
CAUTIONS: Southport - Morley 37 (foul on Knapper); Pickford 61 (Foul on I. Robinson). Alfreton - Knapper 37 (retaliation on Morley); Cooper 55 (foul on Baker).
REDS MAN OF THE MATCH: Luke Foster.