Two weeks ago Gainsborough Trinity looked to have given Southport a helping hand in the race for the Blue Square North title.
A surprise win for Brian Little’s side against leaders Fleetwood Town was welcome news at Haig Avenue, but the Sandgrounders received no assistance from their opponents this afternoon.
The team that started the day second-bottom of the division were full value for a point against the team second-top, as the home crowd endured a bore draw that scarcely produced an incident worthy of mention.
Liam Watson summed up the general feeling by saying Southport did not offer enough to have warranted a win, and it probably would have been an injustice had the Sandgrounders profited from one of the very few goalscoring chances they created.
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Southport have tended to fare better this season when playing teams near the top of the table. But while Tuesday’s trip to Stalybridge Celtic offers a chance to quickly return to winning ways, the Sandgrounders know they could encounter similarly stubborn opponents next weekend in struggling Redditch United.
Southport’s previous three meetings with Gainsborough this season had produced 11 goals but there was little risk of either team finding the target here.
The Sandgrounders had started positively enough - Chris Simm could have perhaps scored when goalkeeper Phil Barnes saved the striker’s near-post shot after being released by Matty McGinn - but the game soon drifted into a malaise that lasted for much of the afternoon.
Southport’s approach was too predictable, allowing the Gainsborough defence to ably deal with everything that was launched towards them. The Sandgrounders’ play lacked the variation needed to unpick a steady rearguard, with little imagination or invention evident in their performance.
Southport’s cause was not helped by the 25th minute withdrawal of midfielder Alan Moogan, who suffered a recurrence of the dead leg that forced him off in the draw at Corby Town last weekend.
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Although the Sandgrounders began the second half with more intensity, the home side failed to capitalise when they ought to have scored. Ciaran Kilheeney had the best chance to break the deadlock but was foiled by Barnes after being fed McGinn, who provided Southport’s one source of creativity.
McGinn twice went close with shots from outside the box, while at the opposite end Sam Aiston produced a strong run and dangerous cross which Earl Davis did well to nudge wide.
Robbie Booth was called upon to scrape Andrew Boyce’s header off the line from an Ashley Burbeary corner as Gainsborough eventually registered an attempt on target but, in truth, a goal for either side would have been an unfair reflection of the quality on show.
Southport: Tony McMillan, Chris Lever (Shaun Gray 78), Rob Marsh-Evans, Adam Flynn, Earl Davis, Alan Moogan (Robbie Booth 25), Ashley Winn, Michael Powell, Chris Simm (Steve Daly 67), Ciaran Kilheeney, Matty McGinn.
Subs not used: Sean Lake, Paul Barratt.
Gainsborough Trinity: Phil Barnes, Ryan Toulson, Nathan Peat, Josh Davies (Mark Graves 67), Gavin Cowan, Andrew Boyce, Ashley Burbeary, Sam Aiston, Lewis McMahon (Darryn Stamp 62), Luke Beckett, Darren Dunning.
Sub not used: Luke Herriott.
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
Attendance: 851
Report by Alan Jones
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Team news and updates to follow throughout the afternoon...