CHARLES TORMENTS MEDIOCRE VILLAGERS
NATIONAL League North side Southport progressed to the next round thanks to three second-half goals, with the Sandgrouders’ Dion Charles the tormentorin-chief.
The opening 45 minutes proved to be an open and entertaining affair, with the home side having a chance as early as the second minute when, from a long throw, ex-Southport player Jack Higgins had his header held by Dan Hanford.
Southport were quick to respond with the opening corner of the game on four minutes as man-of-the-match Charles had a good chance blocked.
Higgins though nearly broke the deadlock on 13 minutes when from a free-kick, his header rattled the crossbar.
Charles was showing his threat and created two chances in succession. On 16 minutes, he raced through on goal but was thwarted by a stunning tackle from Adam Clayton. A minute later, he was free in the box but his effort was scarambed clear.
The Celts though were giving as good as they got against their higher-league opponents and just before the half-hour mark saw Jimmy Spencer hang in the air and plant his header just over the bar. Southport then had a great chance five minutes before the break, as Charles held the ball up well, drifted across the box and fired fractionally over.
Southport took the lead in the 46th minute, as a corner for the visitors found its way to Charles who forced it into the roof of the net. Celtic though had a real chance to level just eight minutes later, when miscommunication in the Southport box saw Nathan Cartman have his header clawed away by Hanford. Farsley were made to rue the missed chance as three minutes later Charles collected, beat Lewis Turner and fired in across Kyle Trenerry. Then, on 64 minutes, the visitors put the game beyond doubt. Devran Green collected on halfway and outstripped the Celts cover before slotting home for Southport’s third. The hosts battled to the end and the triple substitution on 72 minutes breathed new life into the home side with Luke Parkin having two good chances in the closing ten minutes to grab a consolation for Farsley. It wasn’t enough though and the day belonged to Southport and the dangerous Charles.