KEV FINDS MAGIC TO REVIVE TOUCH SOUTHPORT

FOR Southport, it seems that winning is becoming a habit. The dramatic upturn in form of Kevin Davies’ team continued against Curzon Ashton, with a sixth win in eight games and fourth straight success at home.

Jason Gilchrist, the leading marksman in the National League North, and Elliot Osborne, scored either side of a comical own goal from Daniel Shaw, to ensure the Sandgrounders came from behind to move up to 11th position.

Southport did not have it all their own way but they struck at important times and dug in when needed as their transformation under Davies gathers pace.

“When we got our goals, the confidence in the team changed and we’ve seen that over the past few games,” said the manager.

“We wanted to push on the score more, but at the same time, I’m pleased with how we managed the game.

“We’ve been playing some good football recently and we always create chances.

“Our players grew into the game as the first half went on and the goals gave us a real lift.

“This was a different kind of performance to our recent matches. We were more gritty against a good team and it’s a big win for us in terms of where we want to be in the table. To come back from a goal behind shows how strong the group is.”

After wins at Gainsborough Trinity and North Ferriby United, this was Southport’s third successive victory.

The Sandgrounders had drawn all three of the reverse fixtures shortly after the appointment of Davies, so the current sequence, scoring nine goals in the process, is a mark of the improvement being made.

Recent games have also seen Davies field the same line-up, and after months of change, the success has been tailored with consistency.