Southport 0 Exeter City 1

The first half was very good, although Southport were playing a defensive 4141 formation we had the possession and all the chances. Southport should have been two-nil up at half time thanks to some comedy goal keeping from the timewasting clown in the City nets, and Southports Tony Gray missing a goal when it seemed easier to score.Nil Nil at half time, Exeter came out looking for a goal, but the match was still balanced. Exeter got the goal and Southport spent the rest of the game trying in vain to find the equaliser.
Good performances from Lane (back in the side and not sacked as the experts predicted), Robinson and Smith.

Cook

There are those who want Paul Cook to be sacked from his job at Southport FC, I am not one of them. In fact I find this idea to be very stupid. Paul Cook has done a great job of getting rid of the part-time players of last season and building a new fulltime young side. Yes the side needs some more experience and the manager knows this. Cook has found some very talented young players, he obviously knows a good player when he sees one.
I think most of the reason why those who want him out do so is because they were in love with Liam Watson. Sounds odd but thats how the fans act. They have lost all reason and have very selective memories. When Watson left the fans sounded like they had lost the love of their life, and now they hate his replacement. It is also interesting to note that while these peopel are visible online, at the ground you do not hear the same comments in the majority of the crowd.


It is hard to know when the online fans are joking, some are even saying Brabin should be brought back as a player and even as manager! For me Brabin signing a fulltime playing contract was a sign that the club had little ambition in its fulltime direction. He was in his last days as a proffesional footballer and didnt have much of a future to offer the club.
Some even think that the club offered players contracts in an effort to force the players to leave the club. Like all internet conspiracy theorists they cannot back their cliams up with evidence and do not liek to be questioned. Why, I wonder, did the club bother to offer them contracts whent hey could have just sold them or paid them off? Answers on a postcard...

Some good news this week, Cook has brought a promising young player in to fill the gap in our defence left by the injured Lee. Again this has been the topic of debate with the online fans who think it is another ploy to rid the club of Chris Lane. They have also deliberately mis-quoted Cook to use his words against him. They complained when the club lacked players and now complain when it brings players in and also complain the one they brought in wasnt brought in for long enough.
But no one said football fans were rational.
I have every faith that Cook can bring in the players he needs and take the club forwards. Cook will be having another Q&A session for the fans, I wonder if his critics are planningt heir excuses not to attend already...

Southport 3 Crawley Town 1

After telling everyone at work I was off to watch Southport play Canvey Island it was a nice surprise to see us play Crawley Town today. As the teams came out I felt a surge of optimism not often felt on the terraces of Haig Ave. that optimism was obviously shared by the team as they had the perfect start and a very nice goal from Alex Smith after 4 minutes. Southport passed well and had more skill with the ball than any Southport side for quite a while. Southport again beat the defence and Dino scored his first goal. The first half saw great performances from Dino, Hoolickin, Blakeman, Smith and Clancy. For the first time Lane was not the best player! Dino and Hoolickan will both be upset they didnt get more goals. Dino made it three with a penalty after some debate and appeals to the bench over who got to take it.
The second half wasn't quite as good, Crawley scored a goal met by silence and Southport played too deep backing off rather than challenging. Although Southport had some very good chances they failed to score. Crawley seemed to have hundreds of corners and Scully was able to do what he liked on the leftwing. He would be a brilliant signing for any team.
It all ended after a tense last 15 minutes 3-1.
MOTM Hoolickin.

Southport 2 Gravesend & Northfleet 2

The rain stopped just in time for kick off, moving the kickoff to 3pm made sense after all. The first half was pretty terrible despite having all the goals. The first two goals came from well taken free kicks in an otherwise dire game. The next two came from some good football before half time. Booth worked hard and put the cross in for Powell to score.
Cook did plenty of shouting during the first half and no doubt did plenty during half time to get his team fired up. Powell was maybe too fired up and got himself sent off early in the second half, leaving the ten men of Southport to hold out for 45 minutes. As it happened though the second half was a vast improvement on the first. Southport played some good attacking football and didnt look like they missed the eleventh man. Booth had a great second half and Hoolickin showed he has a decent left foot. Neither side managed to get the winning goal and a draw was a fair result. Tony Gray came on as a sub in the second half and looks promising, although we still need an experienced player up front to get the goals.