Southport 2 Redditch 3

The rain held off for the first half and Southport started brightly. Southport had most of the possession and attacked Redditch and were rewarded with two goals from Michael Powell and Mark Duffy. Southport looked to be in control and heading for a repeat of Tuesday nights 5:2 win. But Southport lost their dominance, the game turned scrappy and Redditch were gifted a goal when Southports keeper and defender both went for the ball and neither got it.
Rather than improving after the half time Southport were worse. The rain started so the Jack Carr stand was home to the Popular Side refugees. Mark Duffy dived in the box and got a penalty for his effort but Kilheeney hit the bar.
Redditch took control and scored two more goals with Southport only looking like they could be bothered in the dying moments of the game.
Watson replaced an attacking player with a defender which did nothing to improve the game. When the game was crying out for Tony Gray, Watson did nothing, only bringing him on with 8 minutes to go. The ball spent most of its time in the air rarely touching the pitch.
Blame was equally divided between manager Watson and keeper Tony McMillan.
Hard to pick a man of the match, Chris Lever, Kevin Lee and Mark Duffy had a good first half. Alan Moogan and Neil Robinson worked hard but neither got the goal they deserved.
Another poor attendance and no reason to come back.

Southport 5 Vauxhall Motors 2

The rain tonight was terrible, I wondered why I was going out of the house let alone to go and stand outside and watch nonleague football. There was rain, hail, and thunder. The Popular side was closed, not that many would have been out there. The players came out and then quickly ran back in again to the boos of the crowd. Someone somewhere heard the fans and the rain stopped allowing the game to start.
Those who had left their TVs at home to come out on a rain sodden night were soon rewarded when a Motors back pass floundered in a puddle and was rescued by Kilheeney who scored less than 2 minutes into the game. Shortly after Neil Robinson put the ball int he net but was denied his goal by the linesman. Robbo was not to be denied for long and scored a great goal a quarter of an hour in.
Vauxhall scored while Southport were still talking about Neils goal, to make it 2:1. Robbo scored again to take Southport into halftime winning 3:1.
The rain started again at halftime.
Former Southport player Nick Rogan made it 3:2 with a great goal infront of the Jack Carr stand. But Southport were better in attack than defence and sub Tony Gray came on and scored followed soon after by Kevin Lee who scored his second of the season.
While Southport scored five goals, and players like Steve Daly and Mike Powell came close to scoring, Southport have to remember they were knocked of the top spot by Tamworth on goal difference. Chances have to be taken and the defence tightened up especially after a Southport goal.
Southport's new signing Michael Barnes played well and looks to be a very promising signing.
Vauxhall didnt give up and played till the end with Nick Rogan and Karl Noon upfront.

MOTM Neil Robinson

Southport 3 Solihull Moors 0

The weather forecast for today was terrible and after the likewise gloomy reports of the last home game at Haig Ave it was more through duty than enjoyment that I went to todays game. The first half was pretty dire. A lot of people in the crowd were chatting amongst themselves, reading the programme or just yawning, those paying attention were getting frustrated with the lack of action. Watson had said though that the game wasn't about the first 15 minutes and 41 minutes into the first half Southport took the lead. Kilheeney heading home from a Mark Duffy cross. Duffy was the only bright spark in the first half, it is a great shame that he is likely to leave us for Morecambe soon.
As the rain came down the second half started. Southport were much improved, a spell 15
minutes in saw the ball cleared from the goal line. The Moors keeper did a great job of keeping the score down. Southport scored again from a free kick, Moogan showing why he deserves a place in the starting 11. Steve Daly came on an almost immediately scored with a cheeky back heel.
Southport should maybe have scored more but the match ended 3:0.

MOTM: Mark Duffy