Double loss hits play-offs
SOUTHPORT’S hopes of a late push for the play-offs were dashed after two defeats in the space of four days.
The Sandgrounders were chasing six consecutive home victories when Alfreton visited last weekend, but a 3-1 defeat at Haig Avenue was followed by a dispiriting 3-2 loss at York on Tuesday evening.
Jason Gilchrist and Elliot Osbourne scored twice in the dying stages midweek to pull the game level with minutes remaining, but James Gray’s injury time winner all but ended Southport’s hopes of making a swift return to the Conference next season.
“It’s disappointing, we got ourselves back in the game at 2-2 and had the momentum and I could only see one team going for the win with a few minutes remaining,” manager Kevin Davies said.
“But we’ve conceded another poor goal and everyone is disappointed.
“We really took the game to them. They’re in the play offs so it’s hard to be critical of the players because they’ve fought to get back into the game and show all the characteristics but I think the players were a little naive.”
Two of York’s goals came from corners, and the former Bolton and England forward reckons there will be discussions about their set-piece preparations in the coming weeks.
“I’m not happy with players getting free headers in the six-yard box,” Davies admitted. “There was a bit of confusion about who was marking who so we need to make sure we’re doing our own jobs and people are doing other jobs. It’s something we need to sort out.”
“It happened on Saturday too. That’s something we’ll be going away and working on as a team really.”
Despite consecutive defeats, Davies says that the players “care” too much to let the blip affect them too much.
“We’ll come in and do the right things. This game has gone. We can’t do anything about that. We reflect as players, manager and staff but they’re a good bunch”.
DESPITE conjuring up four losses during their campaign, it ended with an unexpected promotion from the division for Woodvale VI in the final week of the Master Lock & Safe Southport and District Badminton League.
While their fellow promotion rivals gradually lost ground, Woodvale came through strong.
They ended their season with a strong 7-1 win over the already relegated Southport VII.
A win in their last match turned out to be more than enough, as third place side Tarleton IV faulted in their losing draw to bottom half side Mawdesley V.
A couple of comfortable straight set wins in both women’s doubles contests was enough for Mawdesley to end the season with a sixth place finish.
Meanwhile, fifth division champions Churchtown IV did enough to take down St. Cuthberts’ third team 5-3. It was a similar result for Formby Methodist, who secured an upset victory over the always tricky Hesketh Bank II.
It has been a season to forget for both Southport sides in this division, as it ended with relegation for their sixth and seventh teams.
For the sixth team, it was a 7-1 loss to bottom half side Burscough Pioneers III.
Tarleton IV secured promotion from division four, without even having to play.
With their final match of the season against Formby II still to be confirmed, it took an upset defeat for nearest rivals Mawdesley IV to settle the second promotion spot.
Mawdesley fell 5-3 to a St. Cuthberts II side who showed real promise of being promotion contenders for next season.
Formby II also managed to survive relegation without hitting a shuttle.
That was due to West End Park III, who could not conjure up a shock result in their 7-1 defeat to Woodvale V, who ended up finishing fourth.
As for division champions Crosby, they recorded their 15th win of the season with a 7-1 win over mid-table side Ormskirk III.
After a shaky start to the season, it has been a memorable turnaround for captain Jonathan Howell and his team.
Elsewhere, it was a sorry end for bottom side Southport V.
Their relegation season ended with a 6-2 loss to Southsands III.
A couple of commanding wins in the final week of the season saw Ormskirk IV confirm promotion from the sixth division.
A 7-1 win over the now relegated Southsands V and a 6-2 victory over bottom half side Woodvale VIII, saw them over-take nearest rivals Churchtown V and Southsands IV.
After those results, it was impossible for Churchtown or Southsands to catchup.
In both of their final matches Churchtown V fell 6-2 to sixth division champions Woodvale VII, whereas they could only muster a losing draw against a Crosby II who managed to survive relegation.
But sadly for Southsands V, they will have to prepare for life in the seventh division for next season.
As for bottom side West End Park IV, it was a heart-breaking 5-3 loss to Southport VIII.
It was a fine end to the campaign for division two’s promoted sides Victoria Hall II, and Southsands.
The division champions saw off a Formby side 7-1, who managed to survive the drop due to results elsewhere. As for Southsands, they produced a dominant display to win 8-0 against West End Park II.
That result sees West End Park II in a tough predicament.
With their only being nine teams in their divisions, it is up to the league to decide how to add a tenth for next season. It could see West End Park be reprieved.
In other division two news, Southport III caused a 5-3 upset win over third place side Tarleton.
Meanwhile, bottom side and already relegated Mawdesley III almost finished their campaign with a flourish.
Sadly they fell short in their 5-3 loss to mid-table side Woodvale III.
There was very little to play for in the first division this week.
Mawdesley finished their title-winning season with a near perfect 7-1 win over bottom half side West End Park.
Woodvale confirmed their second place finish with a white-wash 8-0 win over a Southport II side who have now finished their season with the unfortunate 100% losing record.
Elsewhere, there were a couple of tense encounters to end the year. Churchtown battled hard to end their season on a high with a 5-3 win over Southport.
Whereas, Woodvale II ousted Churchtown II to overtake them for a seventh place finish.
In division three, Hesketh Bank’s historic promotion ended with a well fought 5-3 win against seventh place finishers Woodvale IV.
With only two losses to their name, captain George Fairbrother and his side will be confident in surviving their first season in division two next year.
It was a sorry end to the season for Southport IV.
Their 7-1 defeat to mid-table side St. Cuthberts made them finish the season with only one point to their name.
Despite being relegated, Southsands II ended with a losing draw against Churchtown III.
However it could have been a win, as Churchtown had to recover from a 4-1 deficit.
One promotion spot that is still yet to be confirmed is second place in the league’s seventh division.
With Burscough Pioneers IV defeating St. Cuthberts’ fifth team 7-1, they now temporarily over take promotion rivals Formby III into second place.
But with a couple of matches left to be determined, that spot is still up for grabs.
While those matches are taking place, we will also see all four Shield finals take place next week, as the final of the prestigious Watkinson Trophy.
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