Southport tough it out for the win Team next face Barrow looking for third straight victory

SOUTHPORT continued their pre-season preparations with a hard-fought 2-0 over Marine at The Pure Stadium.

Marcus Carver notched the opening goal late in the first half, latching on to a defensive mishap by the visitors to slot home, before turning provider for Connor Woods to make the game safe in the final minutes.

Dylan Vassallo threatened first for Southport with a 25-yard free-kick which went narrowly over the bar, in what was a relatively tame first ten minutes at Haig Avenue.

The home side then had an appeal for a penalty turned away as Connor Woods appeared to be knocked down in the area by James Devine, but the referee saw otherwise and waved away the Port protests.

Marine began to grow into the contest soon after, coming close through Anthony Wiley and Owen Watkinson, who both headed over from corners in quick succession.

It would be Southport to take the lead in the 38th minute, however, as a mix-up at the back through Bayleigh Passant and David Raven presented Marcus Carver with an open net to roll the ball into.

Cam Mason made way for Tony McMillan at halftime and the veteran ‘keeper was called into action soon after, getting down low to his right to stop a powerful Watkinson effort from outside the box.

Southport responded well to that early scare, though, as Woods plucked the ball out of the sky before driving forwards and firing narrowly wide of the far post.

The away side then had their goalkeeper to thank for keeping the score at one nil, as Josh Hmami looked certain to net his first Yellows goal with a point-blank header, but the 20-year-old did brilliantly to thwart him with his feet.

Marine took that lifeline seriously and looked destined to equalise just moments later – but Jack Doyle was there to head the ball off the line following a penalty box scramble. Soon after Woods – who was lively throughout – came close again from the edge of the area after a run towards goal, but his effort was straight down the throat of Passant.

He would, however, get the goal his performance deserved just moments later, as Carver slid him through before he calmly skipped beyond Raven and fired beyond the hapless Passant in the 88th minute. Southport next host Barrow on Saturday, July 31, looking to make it three wins on the spin.

SOUTHPORT FC: Cam Mason (GK)

(45’), Charlie Oliver, Jack Doyle (85’), Russ Benjamin (C), Adam Anson,

Connor Woods, Marcus Carver, Charlie Munro (66’), Chris Doyle, Josh Hmami, Dyle Vassallo (66’).

SUBSTITUTES: Tony McMillan (GK) (45’), Doug Tharme (66’), Jack Bainbridge (66’), A Trialist (85’).

MARINE FC: Bayleigh Passant (GK),

Josh Soloman-Davies (63’), James Devine, Mark Howarth (73’), Anthony Miley, David Raven, Owen Watkinson, Alex Doyle, Niall Cummins, A Trialist (45’), Ryan Wignall.

SUBSTITUTES: A Trialist (73’), Germano Mendes, Lewis Reilly (45’), A Trialist (63’), A Trialist, A Trialist, A Trialist.