Burscough 2 Southport 3

The sky was clear this Boxing Day as we walked up to Burscough for the Lancashire Derby. It was an important game for me as I managed to bet more than I can afford on a Southport win. With us second in the league and Burscough not winning at home all season and in the relegation zone, it was easy money...
Its well known that most of the Southport personnel came from Burscough but it was a nice surprise to see Steve Dickinson in goal for Burscough.
The first half was even, neither side looking much like scoring. The only goal came from Steve Daly but it wont be one kids will be recreating in the playground, the ball barely trickled over the line.
Half time came and went, the queue for the tea wasn't worth the effort.
Burscough were improved in the second half but former Port legend Dicko gifted Southport a second goal passing the ball to a yellow shirt (old habits die hard) with Kilheeney scoring. Southport were time wasting with avengance. There may have been over 20 minutes to play but Southport were in no mood to play football. Burscough scored a scrappy goal and put the pressure back on Southport. Matty McGinn looked to have scored the last goal of the match making it 3:1 to Southport but despite (or maybe because of) the Ports time wasting the referee let play continue well into extra time and gave Burscough a penalty. With Southport ordered to waste even more time I held my breath until the final whistle. Southport won the 3 points and I won my bets.
It was a poor game, Southport were as bad defensively as the last game but much poorer in attack. The time wasting was embarrasing. Still we got the points and can carry on the push for promotion. Hopefully with Connolly and Lever back in the side things will improve. It will take better performances than that to win the league.
MOTM: Matty McGinn

Southport 5 Gainsborough Trinity 3

With Southports strikers on form I hoped for goals and wasn't disappointed. Southport got off to a dream start scoring 3 goals in the first 15 minutes. Ashley Winn scoring on his home debut after just 58 seconds.
You would think such a start would make the Southport fans happy but some are always hoping for the worst. What was worse than listening to them predicting the downfall of the 3 goal lead was watching the three Gainsborough goals going in to prove them right. The Southport defence was missing Lever and Connolly and was largely terrible. The crowd were quick to boo their team and shout abuse at the manager and keeper.
Luckily the midfield and forwards made up for the defensive failings and scored the goals to win the game.
The match ended 5:3, 8 goals and an entertaining game.

MOTM Ashely Winn
Popular Side Pundit: (at 3:2) "Its lucky they got the third goal or they could be losing 3:2"