Sandgrounders denied victory by late leveller
IT was a case of so near yet so far for Southport after a Boston equaliser in the 89th minute cancelled out an early own goal for The Sandgrounders.
Southport started brightly and should have scored in the fifth minute when a Jack Doyle free kick came back off the bar (Video evidence seen later shows the ball had crossed the line before Jordan headed over) and was headed over an open goal by Jordan Archer.
It was a trademark Doug Tharme throw in that caused havoc in the home defence in the 10th minute and the unlucky Tom Platt got the finishing touch to register an own goal.
The windy conditions were playing havoc for both sides but Southport were on top and you felt needed to get another goal at least playing with the wind at their backs.
Boston hit the bar in the 22nd minute in the only real threat on the Southport goal in the first half.
We expected the second half to be one way traffic with the wind now behind the home side but the Southport rearguard were repelling all that was being thrown at them and proving hard to break down.
Archer had a great chance to make it 2-0 in the 76th minute heading over when unmarked and Tyler Walton also had a shot across goal that nobody was able to get on the end of.
Just when it looked like all three points would be coming back to Lancashire up stepped the Boston skipper Luke Shiels to prod the ball home in the 89th minute.
Southport thought they had survived the second half onslaught which for all the home sides possession was not actually penetrating the defence with Tharme, Edwards and Anson outstanding.
So, disappointment on 90 minutes but before the game everyone would have been happy with a point against a strong Boston side.
Southport were back to the Southport we know after last week’s horror show at Chester, closing down harrying and working hard for each other. Seven days is a long time in football and after the despondency at full time a week ago a four point haul in the last two game has been a good return.
Attendance 1552 with 57 from Southport and we thank everyone for your brilliant support this afternoon. It isn’t an easy journey made worse with the weather conditions over the top of the M62 when the wind sleet and snow made for a lively trip.
Media Man Of The Match has to be one of the outstanding defenders and Adam Anson just gets the vote.
“We defended heroically at the back but we’ve had two great chances – we should have taken the lead before we did but in the second half we had the chance of the game, Charlie Munro has put it on Jordan (Archer’s) head for an open goal but he’s put it wide,” said boss Liam Watson.
“Don’t get me wrong, Jordan has won us enough points in the last few weeks.
“On the balance of play, everything that had
We’ve bounced back from Chester with four points from trips to Telford and Boston. You’d take that all day Liam Watson
been bad about us last week was good this week, work rate, effort, commitment, desire, it ran through the team. Tyler (Walton) gave us incredible work rate up front, masses of energy.
“The lads are not too deflated – after Chester we’ve bounced back with four points from going to Telford and Boston, you’d take that all day. It was important we didn’t lose.
“We just need to keep ticking games off, there’s a long way to go.”
Frontman Walton was playing his first game for the club since joining as a permanent signing.
The paperwork was completed hours before the trip to Boston and Watson was delighted to finalise the move.
“He’s given us a different dimension,” he said. “I think he’d gone stale at Farsley, no disrespect to them.
“I think with the performances he’s put in since being here, we can see he can play at a higher level than where we are – we’d just like to take him there with us.”