The curtain came down on Southport’s league campaign with a 2-1 defeat at high flying Blyth Spartans.
Blyth came into the game on the back of six straight wins knowing a win would guarantee them a play off spot and they got off to a great start with the first of two penalties in the 5th minute despatched by Robbie Dale. Dan Hanford in the Southport goal very nearly saved but it just crept under his dive. There was no argument about the award of this penalty as it was a clear trip by Reagan Ogle.
Southport had chances to get back on level terms in the first half with Dion Charles through on goal but shooting straight at Jameson in the Blyth goal and Jordan Richards fired over after great work by Charles.
Blyth should have gone further ahead on the stroke of half time with Green unable to get on the end of a Maguire’s cross.
It was to Southport’s credit that they didn’t capitulate after a lively start by Blyth who were roared on by their second highest gate of the season and it was the away side who equalised after 55 minutes when Matty Platt met an excellent Morgan Homson-Smith free kick to head home.
Liam Davies had a 35 yard shot spectacularly saved in the 60th minute as Southport pushed for a winner.
Hanford then pulled off a superb save to deny Maguire with an overhead kick in the 69th minute which was a contender for save of the season.
The second penalty was awarded to the home side in the 70th minute and whilst there were no arguments about the first one this one looked very soft and as manager Liam Watson said after the game “it was a joke” Up stepped Dale again to score from the spot and send the home fans into raptures as their play off place was sealed.
Dale has scored all three goals against the ‘Port this season, two penalties and one direct from a corner in the game at The Merseyrail Community Stadium.
Platt had a late header that landed on the roof of the net but the final whistle came to bring an end to the league season with Southport in 14th place.
Dan Hanford has appeared in every Southport league game this season to become the first ever present since Tony McMillan in 2010/11.
Southport move on to the Lancashire Junior Cup Final at The University Of Bolton Stadium on Monday against Colne (Kick Off 7.45) where they will be looking to pick up the second piece of silverware of the season to add to the Liverpool Senior Cup win against Prescot Cables.
Line Up: Hanford, Richards (Green 70), Ogle, Edwards, Astles, Platt, Davies, Wood, Charles, Parry, Homson-Smith.
Unused Subs: Bauress, Morgan, Lacey & Tibbetts.
Southport Man Of The Match : Dan Hanford
Att 1491
Report By Rob Urwin
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