Southport head to North Ferriby United in Vanarama National League North action on Saturday, and Kevin Davies’ side are full of confidence after Jason Gilchrist’s 3-0 dismantling of Gainborough Trinity last weekend.
North Ferriby have just a single win to their name for the entire league campaign, beating Blyth Spartans in August, and have since gone on a 25 match winless run. They travelled to Brackley in midweek, slipping to a second successive 3-0 defeat, after previously suffering the same scoreline at the hands of AFC Telford
Ahead of the game manager Kevin Davies told southportfc.net: “We’ve had a good week after last week’s win even though conditions haven’t been great on the training pitch with the weather. We’ve got a good healthy group of players in now in morning training, there’s a good spirit around the place so we’re looking forward to the game.”
“We want to continue looking at our standards, our work ethic, challenging the players, keeping on top of them, keeping them driven. The expectation that we have for the team is to continue working extremely hard, to ensure we’re one of the fittest teams in the league. With the quality that we have now, we’re becoming a very strong, hard to beat group.”
But Davies knows North Ferriby’s league position is no excuse for complacency in the squad ahead of Saturday’s game.
“It was a good complete away performance last week, this is another week now where it’s all about the mentality of the players and the way they approach this game. We can’t think we’re going to turn up and win this game. North Ferriby had a couple of draws recently so we have to go and make sure we take the game to them.”
“We’ve prepared as we would any other game, possibly harder than usual actually. We had a fitness session on Tuesday and it was probably one of the hardest sessions we’ve had since I’ve been here.”
“Jon McCarthy went to go and watch them in midweek with Richard Boryszczuk, so we’ve prepared as we would do, and we know our game-plan can go and earn us the three points. We’ve worked even harder this week to prepare for this game, we’re not underestimating them.”
The last meeting between the two sides was back in November, when North Ferriby left the Merseyrail Community Stadium with a point after a 2-2 draw. Southport recovered from a goal down to take the lead in that match, only to concede an equaliser nine minutes later. Since then Southport have made key additions in personnel, giving the team much more strength and consistency.
Davies will be looking for Jason Gilchrist to replicate the performance at Gainsborough that earned his second hat-trick of the season in a Southport shirt, despite suffering from a stomach upset before the game. The striker took himself to the top of the lead scorers charts overtaking Jon Parkin and Jason Oswell, and Gilchrist has now set himself a target of 30 goals for the season.
Striker Dan Cockerline looks set to be included in the squad after the completion of his loan at Farsley Celtic, and the Southport manager is pleased with his progress.
“The conversation before Dan went was for him to go away and get plenty of minutes under his belt, get his confidence up, score goals and come back to the group fitter and stronger. Farsley Celtic were interested in extending the loan but we wanted him to come back and compete for places, and put pressure on the players that are playing at the moment.”
“He’s come back and he’s looking a lot stronger and a lot fitter, which is why we wanted him to go away and get the games. It appears to have worked so he’s back competing and he’ll be in contention for the weekend.”
Davies also had praise for the travelling Southport supporters, and hopes that the team is given a strong backing again on Saturday.
“Get behind the boys. Its another long journey for us all with back to back away games. We’re just continually trying to improve and continue the good results we’ve had since the turn of the year. We’re going out there to enjoy the game and we hope the travelling fans do too.”
Prices
Adults £12
(OAP – over 65, Students): £6
Under 16: £4
Under 12’s admitted free if accompanied by an adult. (for National League North fixtures only)
(Concessions may require proof of eligibility)
Car Parking
Car parking is available on Grange Lane’s Playing Field car park. When full, space can be found on the adjoining streets around the ground.
Limited disabled spaces are located on Grange Lane’s Playing Field car park directly opposite our main entrance. These are available on a first come basis.
For some games, additional car-parking arrangements are also available at the Primary School on Church Road for which there is a £2 charge.
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