Jamie and his magic touch lifts Yellows
AS the Southport players made their way off the pitch at the Merseyrail Community Stadium on Tuesday night after this commanding win over York City, it was hard not to think of how things have changed in such a short period of time.
The Sandgrounders’ last midweek match was at Solihull Moors at the start of the month, suffering a 4-0 defeat on live television, before they sank to the bottom of the Vanarama National League after losing their next game at Guiseley.
Fast-forward three weeks and the outlook for Steve Burr’s team could not be more different.
Having lifted themselves off the foot of the table at the weekend, only goal-difference now separates Southport from a place above the safety line after Jamie Allen struck twice to secure three points from a vital match.
On Saturday, the dominance of Burr’s team was undermined by their failure to take their chances as they drew with Sutton United.
But if that had been viewed as the Sandgrounders’ most commanding performance of the season, then this was probably the most complete display by a Southport team for several seasons.
Not since the Sandgrounders registered five straight home wins under John Coleman in the early part of 2014 have they produced a performance of such authority in front of their own crowd.
Like Coleman, Burr has overseen wholesale changes to the struggling squad he inherited and, after taking time to find their feet, the new-look team is bearing fruit.
Having been made to pay for their wasteful finishing against Sutton, Southport ensured that they got their full reward this time, although how it took until stoppage time for them to add a second goal was something of a mystery.
Southport’s next home match is against Fleetwood Town, from SkyBet League One, in the first round of the Emirates FA Cup.
Among the crowd was their manager, Uwe Rosler, so perhaps it was fitting that the Sandgrounders’ win came courtesy of Allen, a former Fleetwood player.
Allen’s sheer work-rate in recent matches meant he was worthy of his two goals. In many ways, his graft sets the tone for a hard-working South- port team, in which there were again a number of fine individual contributions. The addition of Ryan Higgins at right-back has been a revelation, while Josh Thompson was at the heart of a sound defensive performance, and Liam Nolan continues to thrive in his more advanced role at the front of a midfield diamond.
Admittedly, York were poor, but having lost against a number of their rivals at the lower end of the table in recent weeks, this was a significant win for Burr’s team.
The recent improvement in Southport’s level of performance was reflected in their starting line-up, which remained unchanged for the third straight match.
The progress made by the Sandgrounders has seen a confidence enter their play and the home team created chances from the off, Callum Howe’s downward header at the far post from a Neil Ashton cross being kept out acrobatically by Kyle Letheren.
The York goalkeeper injured himself in the process and Scott Flinders, his replacement, went on to make a string of excellent saves.
York midfielder Clovis Kamdjo met a corner from Yan Klukowski with a header which was blocked by Kaine Felix, his own player, but that was the sum of the visitors’ efforts.
The likeliest Southport player to get behind the York defence was always Allen, who generated real power in his shot as he struck a bouncing ball but goalkeeper Flinders saved well.
And it was Allen who put the Sandgrounders in front three minutes after the interval, rolling home a penalty after Nolan’s run into the box had been ended by Alex Whittle.
Burr’s team should then have turned the screw, Flinders saving a pile-driver from Nolan and a volley from Allen, who later delivered a cross to the centre of the goal.
By now, Southport were utterly dominant and, as against Sutton, their creativity increased as the second half progressed.
Flinders somehow turned a longrange shot from Higgins onto the post before Allen set the seal on the win in added time, sweeping home a low finish from a Nolan pass. York City (3-5-2): Letheren (Flinders 12), Clappison, Higgins (Rzonca 57), Fry, Heslop, Klukowski (Clarke 46), Kamdjo, Galbraith, Whittle, Felix, Fenwick. Subs not used: Burton, Robinson. Referee: Karl Evans Attendance: 856 Man of the match: Jamie Allen