Lancaster City 2 - Southport 5:

DOLLY BLUES BATTLE HARD BUT CAN’T BEAT BLUE SQUARE

Lancaster were stopped one game short of a Lancashire Cup Final at Bolton Wanderers’ Reebok Stadium by Blue Square North side Southport.

 

Southport had more chances than City in the first half and had the ball in the net early on. Daniel Lloyd’s free kick was bundled in at the far post but the linesman had his flag raised. Then the free kick taker’s long run and shot was saved and well held onto by Martin Fearon.

 

Before all them chances Jordan Connerton attempted a 30-yard shot but didn’t worry Sean Lake too much. However, it was a Lancaster player who scored the first goal- in the wrong net. Robbie Booth’s cross was headed past his own ‘keeper by City skipper Michael Stringfellow, playing his first match after suspension.

 

Daniel Lloyd’s deflected shot skidded across the turf and Fearon did well to stop it. Mike Rushton’s powerful shot from inside the box was pushed over by Lake but the winger was offside. The linesman had his flag up again this time at the other end. Steve Daly was the culprit, straying into an offside position to head against the post.

 

Southport got their second in fortunate circumstances once again. A corner wasn’t cleared properly and captain Adam Flynn’s shot was going well wide until it took a deflection off a Lancaster player and went in.

 

Guy Heffernan blocked Robbie Booth’s shot onto the bar but Southport got the another just two minutes later. Paul Barratt’s cutback was unintentionally handled by Andrew Teague and referee Gary Hilton awarded the spot kick, which Steve Daly coolly rolled home.

 

Southport clearly felt the game was out of Lancaster’s reach and made three half time substitutions. Lancaster gave Southport a scare eight minutes after the restart when Paul Jarvis cross’ was met by Mike Rushton six yards out but his shot flashed wide.

 

Tony Hesketh made three changes in the space of ten minutes that all had an effect in different ways. First Dom Ward and Mike Rushton made way for Max Rothwell and Roger Sharrock. Jordan Connerton, being watched by a few Football League clubs on the night, came off to be replaced by Mark Jackson.

 

Six minutes after Jackson’s arrival City pulled one back. Rothwell showed great skill on the right and passed to Jackson. His left-foot shot on the turn from 12 yards beat Lake and nestled in the bottom corner. Rothwell and Sharrock, returning from injury, were both causing problems down the flanks.

 

With eight minutes of normal time remaining Adam Farrell’s determination allowed Chris Ward through on goal, but he blazed his shot over the bar.

 

That effectively sealed the game for Southport who went up the other end and almost scored but Chris Simm shot wide.

 

Mark Jackson curled a shot wide when he had Lake beaten before Simm got his goal. He calmly slipped past Fearon and, despite Guy Heffernan’s despairing efforts to clear the ball he could only help it in. It wasn’t over yet though, as Andrew Teague immediately went up the other end and latched onto a through ball, scoring from the edge of the box.

In injury time Adam Farrell’s flick on in the box when Lake was in no man’s land was volleyed away on the line by Connor Millington. Michael Stringfellow tried to loop a header in but Millington easily cleared, causing a goalmouth scramble in which every City player must have had a shot closed down. Robbie Booth completed the victory for Southport when he tapped in Ciaran Kilheeney’s low cross.

 

Lancaster City: Martin Fearon, Guy Heffernan, Neil Marshall, Andrew Teague, Michael Stringfellow, Chris Ward, Mike Rushton (Roger Sharrock, 60), Dominic Ward (Max Rothwell, 60), Jordan Connerton (Mark Jackson, 69), Paul Jarvis.

 

Southport:     Sean Lake, Paul Barratt, Chris Lever (Lewis Savva, 46), Adam Flynn, Rob Marsh-Evans, Bradley Barnes (Connor Millington, 46), Robbie Booth, Ashley Winn, Steve Daly (Ciaran Kilheeney, 46), Chris Simm, Daniel Lloyd.

 

Lancaster City:   Jackson- 75, Teague- 89  

Southport:           O.G(2)-18,34, Daly(pen)-40, Simm-87, Booth- 90+4

                                         

 

 

 

 

Ryan McMenamin
Wednesday 24th February 2010

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