Celtic's only shot on target came in the opening minute when Dave Hankin fired low, but without power from the edge of the box. Southport's physical approach to the game broke what little play there was up, and against a makeshift backline, they were always going to create chances, Paul Barratt twice going close, once with the goal at his mercy after intercepting a loose pass, before Steve Daly got the ball in the back of the net, only for it to be ruled offside. A free kick near the corner flag saw Dave Carnell palm away Marsh-Evans's shot, and then tip Daly's returning effort onto the bar and out for a corner. Just before half time, Daly teed up from the edge of the box, but put it wide, only to be handed another chance moments later, and this time, he didn't disappoint, flashing a rising shot past Dave Carnell, who got a hand to the ball, but couldn't keep it out.
Jody Banim took the game to Southport straight from the restart, weaving his way into some space, but the final shot was wayward. Keith Briggs, back from a long layoff, was brought onto and tried to gee up the team, producing a trademark thumping header onto Richard Battersby's cross, but putting it wide. Twiss played a good one-two with Banim to get his shot off, but that rose over the bar, Tony McMillon still untroubled in the visiting nets. Another excellent Battersby cross had Joe O'Neill on the near post, and Jody Banim on the back, both just unable to reach it, and Keith Briggs got his head onto a corner, only to thump it into the side netting. At the other end, McGinn got his head on a free kick, but lifted it over the bar.
Southport's tactics weren't pretty, they weren't entertaining, but they were effective. They contained Celtic, and they got the goal that gave them the three points.
1 | Carnell, David | ||
2 | Battersby, Richard | ||
3 | Smart, Andrew | ||
4 | Law, Graeme | ||
5 | Peyton, Warren | ||
6 | Adams, Danny | ||
7 | Hankin, Dave | > 62 | |
8 | Carr, Michael | > 84 | |
9 | O’Neill, Joe | > 84 | |
10 | Banim, Jody | ||
11 | Twiss, Michael | ||
12 | Briggs, Keith | < 62 | |
14 | Jennings, Connor | ||
15 | Dodgson, Lee | < 84 | |
16 | Wilkinson, Greg | ||
17 | Barlow, Matty | < 84 |
1 | McMillan, Tony | ||
2 | Lever, Chris | ||
3 | Marsh-Evans, Rod | ||
4 | Flynn, Adam | ||
5 | Davies, Earl | ||
6 | Booth, Robbie | > 72 | |
7 | Winn, Ashley | ||
8 | Powell, Michael | ||
9 | Daly, Steve | > 84 | |
10 | Barratt, Paul | ||
11 | McGinn, Matty | ||
12 | Gray, Shaun | ||
14 | Barnes, Bradley | < 84 | |
15 | Kilheeney, Ciaran | < 72 | |
16 | Simm, Chris | ||
17 | Lake, Sean |