Southport HC Half Way Report

Crazy to think the first half of the 2018/19 season has been and gone. Take a look at the half way report to catch up on team highlights from the games played so far.

Ladies 2nd XI

Currently 5th Place

P10 W4 D1 L5 | F24 A33

Hannah Williams’ Ladies 2nd XI started well with back to back victories over Clitheroe and Blackburn Northern Ladies and Fylde. Back to back wins was unfortunately met with back to back losses against a stronger Fylde XI in the cup and Lancaster. With a 5:1 win against Garstang and a couple of other close games the ladies 2nd XI will be looking for more consistency in performance and selection for the second half of the year. Currently 5th in the table though, with a couple more back to back wins can put the team firmly in the top 4.

Ladies 1st XI

Currently 1st Place

P11 W8 D0 L3 | F49 A21

If you take away the rocky starts against Clitheroe and Blackburn Northern and a strong Fylde team in the cup, the Rachael Utterson’s 1st XI will of only conceded 7 goals this season. After a few low scoring games earlier in the season the 1st XI have finished their last 5 games with 33 goals scored and only 4 conceded. When looking at the results, the girls have gone from strength to strength each week learning a new style of play implemented to all teams at Southport HC. More control in and out of possession of the ball and outnumbering opposition players in different areas of the pitch seems to of worked well so far. A long way to go yet but with the 1st XI sitting top of the table* the girls should be looking to maintain the pressure on top of the table Lytham St Annes.

*Top of the table having played two more games than second place

Mens 2nd XI

Currently 1st Place

P12 W9 D1 L2 | F53 A17

Early on before the season started, Skipper George Finegan set the target of improving on last seasons 7th place finish with aspirations of a top 3 push. So far, so good. The 2nd XI have bolstered their squad in almost every position on the pitch. An effective blend of former players returning including S. Carr, M. Gray and G. Edwards in addition to the youthful T. Finegan, J. Finegan, T. Gocken and M. Rollins has added two extra dynamics to the 2nd XI. Adopting the new Southport identity has taken patience, thinking and questions but since the end of October much like the Ladies 1st XI, the system has appeared to ‘click’. The boys are now on a 6 game win streak having only conceded 4 and scoring 34, with this kind of form comes a very deserved 1st place spot at Xmas. If the ever reliable stalwarts such as E. James, S. Markland and I. Sutton act as the glue for the team, the second half of the season sets out to be an exciting one for the 2nd XI.

Mens 1st XI

Currently 1st Place

P14 W12 D2 L0 | F65 A29

Much like the other teams in the club, Simon Helms 1st XI have been getting used to a new style of play introduced from player/coach C. Jameson. After some incredibly high scoring games against Rochdale and Wigan in the cup (21 goals in 2 games) the 1st XI started to make important steps to how to remain in control of the game despite not having possession of the ball. A stubborn performance against Kendal was the game of the season defensively for the team. Attacking wise the Greens have been in a funny spot scoring more goals against the teams around them in the table and less goals against those struggling lower down. 6 goals scored against Golborne and Liverpool John Moores and a total of 15 in two games against Rochdale show how well the Seasiders can attack against high performing teams. However the champagne moment of the season so far must come down to the 5-4 Lancashire Trophy quarter final win against Prescot who sit in 4th position in North West Division 1, two leagues above Southport. A total of 20 league places between the two teams yet the underdogs with a point to prove came out on top. A 7 point gap at the top of the league table, a semi final spot against Blackburn Northern and an unbeaten record, undoubtably the first half of the season has been a success, but if the 1st XI are seriously looking to move on to bigger and better things, their foot cannot step off the gas.

Overall, 47 games played, 33 wins, 4 draws and 10 losses. 191 goals scored and 100 conceded. Across the club, it is clear to see improvements have been made over the course of the first half of the season. A strong foundation for all teams has been created and only with the continuous commitment already from shown can we progress on further as players, teams and as a club.