Watson hails fans as Southport held
MANAGER Liam Watson was full of praise for Southport fans after his side claimed a point at home to Gloucester City on Saturday.
Gloucester took the lead from a clever set piece, but Southport equalised through a Marcus Carver penalty after a handball in the 18-yard box.
Jordan Young then put Gloucester ahead in the 28th minute, before a Connor Woods wondergoal levelled the score yet again.
Southport had numerous chances to claim all three points, but none were converted and the score remained 2-2 – to the disappointment of Watson.
Speaking to the club’s media channel after the match, Watson said: “100 per we dropped two points. I think the second half, we dominated it that much I can’t remember having a second half like it.
“I have got to say, the fans were immense. It was brilliant, the atmosphere was unbelievable and they stayed with us, they dragged us through.
“I think they loved the attitude, loved the application and liked the workrate – it’s everything the Southport fans like.
“It was there in abundance, a lot of flair, some really good football played.
“I am going home proud of them [the players] because they have done remarkably well today to come back. They’re young – some people are saying we took a big gamble going as young as we have, but Gloucester won’t be saying we took a gamble.
“You’ve got to give them a little bit of credit as well. They have done us on a corner, I know it was a mad deflection and it has gone in which is disappointing but the movement was good.
“What I will say: We must have had 30 set pieces in the last third of the pitch – and the keeper and the back four have dealt with it. And the quality going in was good, so you have got to give them credit.”
While Watson was disappointed not to claim all three points, he did see a number of positives in the match against a strong opposition.
He said: “You have got to remember they are a full-time team. I think we ran over them the last 15 minutes. The energy – Connor [Woods], Dylan [Vassallo], Josh [Hmami] – they were just relentless breaks.
“I thought Doug [Tharme] joined in, Chris Doyle knocked some brilliant diagonal balls out and [Adam] Anson came out and played through the lines.
“Jack Doyle was non-stop up and down the pitch, and Jordan Archer came on and should have scored but it has gone through his legs at the far post.
“Jack Bainbridge has had a great chance, Marcus has gone clean through, Dylan [Vassallo] should score, Connor [Woods] should score again and should score in the first half – lots and lots of chances.
“On the first day, I’m really pleased and you have got to give them credit because they had some really good footballers out there as well.”
Watson was full of praise for the ‘brilliant’ fans in the stadium, who spurred Southport on throughout the match.
“I have grown up at this football club,” said Watson. “I came here as a young manager and they have been on this journey with me all the way.
“I think they have seen the characteristics of what they would say is typically one of my sides today – loads of energy, loads of athleticism, asked big questions and flair in the final third.
“But they [the fans] were brilliant. To get 800 on the first day of the season against Gloucester, who are bringing no one, it’s a remarkable turn-out – especially after being away for so long.
“Actually, it’s the first game I’ve enjoyed in a long time. It’s just not the same [without fans].
“Football is about fans and about players. We all have our little bits to do, but for players – do stuff on the pitch. For fans – cheer them on. And today they dragged us on.
“It would have been a travesty if we didn’t come out with anything, I feel disappointed that we have only come out with a point!
“But definitely, they got behind us brilliantly.”
New Southport signing Josh Hmami made his debut against Gloucester, and – like Watson – he was disappointed to only come away with a point.
He said: “I thought it was a great debut. The only disappointing thing is, as everyone here knows, is that we should have come away with the three points.
“Especially in the second half, we were all over them. Connor [Woods] had a few [chances], Marcus [Carver] had a few, Jack Bainbridge [also] and that is just a few off the top of my head.
“We pinned them back for long periods of the game and I definitely feel like we should have got the three points.”
After making the jump to National League North football, Hmami said: “It really is a step up. I feel like the Cup games last season gave me an idea of what it is like to play against the higher teams and what it takes.
“And to come here in front of the home fans, they were class. They cheered us on right through the game – they definitely gave us that extra 10 per cent we needed.
“Without them we could have gone under at 2-1 but they got behind us, they carried on being supportive.
“It’s just a shame we didn’t get the three points for them.
“We could have come away with nothing at one point but to come from behind twice and saying that we should have won the game is a real positive.
“It’s our first game together as a new set of lads and I feel that we bonded really well – it’s a special group.”