An afternoon to forget for the travelling Sandgrounders after falling to a 5-1 defeat on the road at league leaders South Shields.

The pattern waa set after just two mintes as time after time the home side were able get in behind the Southport rearguard, the only surprise was it took until the 14th minute for them to score the first goal.

The goals then flowed and it was 4-0 by half time after a scintillating opening 45 minutes from Shields.

Southport created one chance with a weak effort from Luke Griffiths drifting harmlessly wide.

The second half was more of the same and Southport were thankful that instead of the goals going in the home efforts were either saved by Doglass Likjanciks in the Southport goal or went just wide.

The fifth goal, the best of the afternoon, came on 76 minutes as once again the defence allowed Roles far too much room on the edge of the box.

Sol Solomon did grab a late goal (89 minutes) after a ‘keeper error allowed the ball to slip from his grasp but it was too little too late.

Despite shipping five goals the Southport MOTM was given to Lukjanciks in the Southport goal without who it could have easily been a double figure score.

Just one shot on target all game against the eighteen goal attempts from the home side.

Line Up: Lukjanciks, Dwyer, Lavelle, Jameson, Davies (Edwards 75), L Griffiths (Cunningham 46) Solomon, Williams, Minihan, Moseley (Ogwuru 58) Hunter.

Unused Subs: McMillan, Flowers, Burgess

Attendance 1994