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SOUTHPORT FC SURPRISE DEFEAT TO BOTTOM OF TABLE TEAM
Report and photos by Sally Devine
SOUTHPORT crashed to a shock 3-1 defeat at the Horsfall Stadium last Saturday playing bottom of the league Bradford Park Avenue. In bitterly cold conditions the Sandgrounders failed to match their previous high standards and looked anything but the potential champions they could be.
1- 0 down after 7 minutes after Farrell Kilbane had brought down Smith in the penalty area they failed to recover and Bradford Park Avenue were always the sharper side in the match. Oleksewycz duly converted the penalty for the home side. Urged on by the 200 or so travelling supporters Southport had few chances, top scorer Terry Fearns failed to convert an easy chance, shooting tamely at Britton. Bradford scored again after 15 minutes, Danny Walsh with a diagonal shot from 20 yards past a despairing Steve Dickinson. Two minutes from half time the game was all but over for Southport when Ekoku set up the tall Oleksewcyz who despatched a low shot into the net.
Southport emerged for the following 45 minutes with the full backs making way for Fitzhenry and Baker but Bradford continued to press forward in search of more goals only the woodwork saved Southport as Oleksewcyz bid for a hat trick, Daly was replaced by Neil Robinson for Southport but the firepower was sadly lacking, only Leadbetters shot troubling Britton in the Bradford goal. The home sides concentration slipped 2 minutes from time when Carl Baker reduced the deficit with a header for Southport.
Southport are at home with a derby against Lancaster City this Saturday Kick Off 3pm. Phil Wilson will relish a return to his previous club as will several of his players such as Steve Jones, Tony Sullivan and Peter Thomson.
Attendance:- 483
Match Line Up…
Southport FC:- Dickinson / Williams / Fitzgerald / Kilbane / Davis / Pickford / Morley / Lynch / Fearns / Daly / Leadbetter
Bradford FC:- Britton / Quinn / Ryan / Walsh / Wray / Crossley / Greaves / Lennon / Ekoku / Oleksewycz / Smith
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