Vanarama National League North
Haig Avenue
Saturday 24th September 2022

By Paul Edwards 

Brakes went down to a second successive one goal defeat, their first away from home this season, as Southport deservedly brought their recent poor run to a halt on a drizzly afternoon on the North West coast.

There was one change in the starting line up from the disappointing FA Cup exit the previous week, with Alex Prosser coming in for the suspended Adam Walker in midfield. Junior English was back on the substitutes bench having recovered from injury.

Having not won in six National League North games the hosts looked to get off to a good start, and inevitably had the early pressure. Jack Edwards headed just over the Sandgrounders’ crossbar before the hosts took a 16th minute lead, Niall Watson meeting an inch perfect right wing centre from Tyler Walton to power a close range header past a helpless Callum Hawkins.

Simeon Maye came inches from a quick equaliser for Leamington when his low drive whizzed past the post.

Hawkins held a header at his far post before a cross-shot from the left by Marcus Carver, returning to Southport from Scunthorpe United, that Hawkins got a touch on; the ball bouncing out of play just out of reach of a team mate at the far post.

Keenan Quansah screwed a shot wide of the target for the home side, before Dan Turner wrestled goal side of his marker to get a shot in that lacked the strength to trouble Cam Mason in the Southport goal.

When Brakes were able to hold on to the ball for a prolonged period they moved it around well, and an incisive piece of play saw it spread right by Prosser for Dan Meredith to run in behind and cross for Edwards to strike a volley just past the post.

Watson sent an early second half effort into the side netting from close range, and Hawkins was in the wars as he bravely saved another effort from close in with his face before clawing another out from under his bar shortly after receiving treatment.

In between times there was another blow for Leamington as Dan Turner was forced off injured having taken a tumble in the Southport area; being replaced by Junior English.

Brakes’ first forward movement of the second half came almost 15 minutes in, Ben Usher-Shipway’s run and blocked shot running loose for English, who blazed well over the bar.

Neat build up play from Southport culminated in Jordan Archer heading narrowly wide at the far post. It was certainly the hosts who looked more likely to score the next goal in the contest, with Brakes struggling to make any real headway going forwards.

Prosser had a glorious chance to level things up as substitute Kieran Cook pulled the ball back well from the touchline with his first involvement in the game. With the Sandgrounders defence apparently believing the ball had gone out of play they seemed to stand still as Prosser’s half volley fizzed inches past the post.

Edwards and several of his team mates were insistent that a Southport man had handled his header towards goal from a right wing cross, but the man in the middle was not interested.

Incredibly Southport somehow failed to double their lead in the final ten minutes as they broke with five men onto two as Leamington gave the ball away down the right. Hawkins saved and three further efforts were somehow scrambled away from close range.

There was then the sight of a bizarre pitch invasion from a hooded youth, who ran down from the home terrace, appeared to want to fight Jack Lane and Kieran Cook, before sprinting back from whence he had come, and round the back of the terrace and apparently out of the ground when pursued by some angry home fans. Very odd. And pointless.

Watson blazed a close range effort high and wide shortly after having been awarded the man of the match over the public address system.

Quansah sent a header whistling across goal and just wide from Josh Hmami’s cross in added time, but despite the narrow outcome there was little doubt that Southport deserved to win the game.

Attendance: 929

Southport: 1 Cam Mason, 2 Charlie Oliver, 14 Keenan Quansah, 4 C Doyle, 6 Declan Evans, 15 Josh Hmami, 9 Jordan Archer, 10 Marcus Carver, 11 Tyler Walton, 17 Niall Watson, 18 Jack Bainbridge.

Subs not used: 13 Tony McMillan, 5 Adam Anson, 16 Dylan Vassallo, 8 Charlie Munro, 7 Connor Woods.

Leamington: Callum Hawkins, Dan Meredith, Louis Hall (15 Stephan Morley, 72), Simeon Maye, Theo Streete, Jack Lane, Ben Usher-Shipway, Alex Prosser, Dan Turner (14 Junior English, 55), Jack Edwards, Devon Kelly-Evans (12 Kieran Cook, 69).

Subs not used: 16 James Mace, 17 Joe Clarke.

Referee: Mr Dale Baines

Assistant Referees: Mr George Eaton & Mr Mark Bates

Photos courtesy of Julia Urwin