Relief with win as Rimmer targets top four finish
Macclesfield Town.
Phenix then enjoyed a successful loan spell with the Sandgrounders in 2015 - scoring eight goals in 23 appearances - before joining the club on a permanent deal the season after.
A move to Salford eventually followed in 2016, but after two seasons away from Haig Avenue, Watson has brought the player back for his third spell.
“I am delighted that we have secured Mike for the forthcoming season,” the manager said. “Mike is a strong, powerful direct player who knows how to win this league having previously done so for AFC Telford and most recently with Salford City.
“He is an excellent addition to the club and squad and I am looking forward to working with him again.” Phenix himself said: “I’m delighted to be back at Southport, I feel that I have unfin- ished business from my last spell here.
“The club is very ambitious and I’m looking forward to working with Liam again.
“I was part of the Salford team that won this division last season and my ambition is to help Southport do the same this coming season. I can’t wait to get started.”
The Sandgrounders also announced Dan Gabrielson as the club’s new head physio this week.
“I am looking forward to being part of the new team at Southport FC and fulfilling the clubs massive potential,” Gabrielson said after being unveiled. FLEETWOOD Hesketh recorded their first win in four matches with victory over Wigan last weekend.
Scott Rimmer won the toss and chose to field in the L&DCC First Division clash, and it took his side just over 30 overs to bowl the visitors out for 113.
Overseas bowler Gavin Dickenson’s 7-37 put Hesketh in the driving seat, and despite losing six wickets in response, Benish Shukla and Derek Sykes made sure of the result after Andrew Watts’ 36 had set Hesketh up for victory.
“The last couple of weeks we’ve put ourselves in winning positions and failed to capitalise on it,” Rimmer said afterwards.
“We bowled Orrell out for 90 [two weeks ago] and failed to capitalise [Hesketh scored 60 in response] on it so it was good to get it over the line against Wigan.”
With his bowling attack consistently picking up wickets and dismantling sides, Rimmer has now called on his batting line-up to start showing the same sort of form in the second-half of the season.
“At the beginning of the campaign we spoke about going for the top two,” he said. “I think that’s going to be a little unrealistic with the way Southport and Birkdale and Orrell Red Triangle are playing.”
“The plan now is to get top four. If we finish third or fourth we’ll be happy. It’s about consolidating this season now and understanding where we can improve to make a challenge of it next year.
“The objective is to continue the momentum we’ve built with the ball. We’re playing attacking cricket - now we need the batsmen to follow suit.”