With 45 goals, 10 wins, 1 draw and 2 defeats from the pre-season programme Southport go in to the real thing next Saturday in buoyant and confident mood.
Today’s game against AFC Liverpool took a while to get going but Southport very nearly fell behind on 2 minutes after a mix up at the back which saw the AFC forward shoot narrowly wide.
The AFC ‘keeper then made three great saves from Newell, Carver and Trialist 1 to keep the visitors out, one of which was truly outstanding as he turned the ball on to the bar from close range.
Southport eventually took the lead on 34 minutes after good work from Doyle who fired in a cross which Carver headed in at close range.
Trialist 1 was narrowly wide with a spectacular overhead kick before the ‘keeper made another fine save to keep the score at 1-0 at the break.
Three goals in quick succession from Adam Anson turning in a corner from Doyle on 56 minutes, Trialist 1 finishing off a great flowing move after a clearance from McMillan was headed on by Carver to Challoner who put in a pin point cross on 60 minutes, and Mo Ali heading home a corner on 63 minutes made the score 4-0.
It wasn’t all one way traffic and Tony McMillan pulled off a fine save late to preserve the clean sheet.
AFC certainly gave a good account of themselves and made life difficult for Southport in what was another good workout for the lads.
There will be sterner tests ahead as we get underway properly and you can’t rely on what happens in friendlies as a guide but scoring goals and winning games is a good habit to get in to in what has been a very enjoyable pre season build up.