Oxford punish slow starts to end Southport’s unbeaten run
Report By Dan Hayes Southport Central
Southport’s seven game unbeaten run came to an abrupt end on Saturday afternoon as Oxford City ran out 3-1 winners at Haig Avenue, punishing the Sandgrounders for slow starts to both halves.
Oxford struck almost immediately. With only four minutes on the clock, O’Shea Ellis threaded a pass through the middle for DJ Sturridge, who rounded goalkeeper Chris Renshaw, and calmly slotted the ball into the net to give the visitors the perfect start.
Southport needed a response and they found it quickly. On 15 minutes Teddy Lavelle brought the hosts level, reacting first to a corner and tapping in from close range to spark hopes of a turnaround.
The equaliser lifted Southport and they produced some encouraging moments during the remainder of the first half. On 18 minutes, neat link-up play between Hilton and Slew worked an opening on the edge of the area, but Slew fired over the bar. Soon after, Lavelle’s clever dummy allowed McKenzie to switch play with a cross-field pass to Slew, whose first-time strike thundered off the crossbar on 32 minutes.
There were further chances before the interval. Chris Sze saw a volley brilliantly saved from almost point blank range by the Oxford goalkeeper Max Metcalfe, who also produced an acrobatic stop to keep out a curling effort from Malakai McKenzie. Despite those opportunities, Southport were unable to turn their pressure into a second goal and the sides went in level at the break.
The game turned again almost immediately after the restart. Just three minutes into the second half, Sturridge found himself with space inside the area. Renshaw rushed out to close him down but the Oxford forward showed composure, lifting the ball over the goalkeeper to restore the visitors’ lead.
From that point Oxford managed the game better than their hosts and increasingly imposed themselves on the contest. Southport struggled to regain the rhythm they had shown earlier and the visitors did a good job of nullifying the hosts’ attacking threats while winning the physical battles across the pitch.
There was plenty of frustration from the large home crowd with referee Zachary Cunningham, whose lenient approach allowed a physical game to develop with too many challenges going unpunished.
The result was put beyond doubt on 79 minutes when McFarlane cut inside and whipped a shot towards the near post that beat Renshaw, the Oxford midfielder wheeling away towards the corner in celebration.
A crowd of almost 2,400 enjoyed a sunny afternoon at Haig Avenue, boosted by the bounce from the Southend ticketing initiative, but the occasion ultimately ended in disappointment. For Danns, the manner of the defeat will be the greater concern. After a promising first half, his side were outfought and outmuscled after the break and rarely looked capable of forcing their way back into the contest.
Oxford thoroughly deserved their victory against a weary looking Sandgrounders, for whom few players received pass marks, in stark contrast to the victory against Spennymoor.
With the gap to the bottom four cut from ten points to seven, the Sandgrounders will have an immediate opportunity to respond when they return to Haig Avenue on Tuesday night to face Alfreton Town.
