Reds share the spoils at Southport

PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY

“You can’t go into a season with just eleven players, and we’ve got players who are pushing for places and that’s what we want.

“I thought Danny Williams had a smashing game. Erico Sousa was lively in the first half and so was Piero Mingoia, who’s then put a brilliant ball in for Billy Kee’s goal.”

It was a quiet start to the match, with Stanley’s first real opportunity coming after 22 minutes when Danny Williams saw an effort cleared off the line.

Jonny Maxted was then required at the other end, making a good save to deny Jason Gilchrist after he had pounced on an error from Ross Sykes.

It remained goalless at the break, with Kee entering the fray at half-time, and he was able to make an immediate impact.

Within two minutes of coming on, he got on the end of a cross from Mingoia and headed past Dan Hanford to make it 1-0 to the Reds.

Kee almost doubled Accrington’s lead moments later when his free-kick curled around the wall, but it hit the post and bounced to safety.

Stanley were made to rue that miss as Southport levelled things up on 70 minutes. This time a free kick had been successful, as Lowe’s 25 yard effort found the net.

There were further chances in the closing stages, with Southport going close to finding a winner in the game, but the Accrington defence held firm and in the end the match finished 1-1.