BURR’S TON OF GAINS
ALOT has changed for Southport in the 100 days since Steve Burr took charge as manager and this incident-packed win provided further evidence of their ongoing transformation.
Burr’s first match in the hotseat was in the reverse fixture at Eastleigh in September, and after a high turnover of players has come a turnaround in fortunes, culminating in the most notable win of his tenure so far.
Southport led by a two-goal margin on three occasions against promotion-chasing Eastleigh but still found themselves hanging on at the end of an afternoon that saw seven goals and three red cards.
Between them, Southport and Eastleigh have had five managers so far this season, and while Burr’s revolution continues, this was a chastening first league match in charge for opposite number Martin Allen
“It was an important win and I’m really pleased with the way the players have applied themselves,” said Burr.
“We played some very good stuff and scored some good goals.
“We’ve beaten a good side in Eastleigh and although we know there is still a lot of hard work to be done, we are definitely heading in the right direction.”
Southport began at an excellent tempo and their bright start was rewarded with a fourthminute lead.
Jamie Allen played the ball to Jordan Lussey, who sent a cross to the far post, where Andrai Jones took a touch before finishing clinically.
Sendings-off are usually guaranteed when referee Joe Johnson is in town and, after showing three red cards in the midweek FA Trophy replay between Chester and Witton, he completed another hat-trick.
It took only 12 minutes for Johnson to issue his first dismissal, giving Southport’s Liam Hynes his marching orders for a lunge on Sam Togwell, before the referee promptly evened things up after Joe Partington had slid in on Neil Ashton.
Liam Nolan added South- port’s second goal from the tightest of angles after an excellent counter-attack led by Ryan Higgins, before Reda Johnson halved Eastleigh’s deficit after goalkeeper Magnus Norman fumbled a Jai Reason corner.
No player embodies Southport’s transformation more than Declan Weeks and he added the home team’s third goal shortly after half-time, scoring with a sumptuous strike from inside the area.
James Constable reduced the arrears but Eastleigh went down to nine when Hak Odoffin pulled back Jones.
Allen rolled home a penalty on 70 minutes after he was tipped by Ben Strevens but Constable set up a nervy finish after converting a cross from Mikael Mandron.
“I didn’t enjoy watching that,” said Allen. “I thought we were very poor and that’s why I’m here, to try and shake things up.”