The last time Southport played Gloucester City on the opening day, the Yellows lifted the Conference North trophy.
Like 2009, Southport today found themselves 1-0 down in the opening ten minutes, with Matt McClure’s effortntaking a wicked deflection as it sailed past Southport keeper Cam Mason.
And like 2009, Southport equalised shortly after going behind. Moments after scoring, McClure’s essentially handed Southport an equaliser, handling the ball with raised arms in the area, allowing Marcus Carver to send the Gloucester keeper the wrong way.
After an opening flurry of goals however, it was Gloucester who started to take control of the game. Regularly finding space in the centre of the park, the visitors constantly cruised forward with ease.
Southport had bright spells in the first half with some neat manuvres, but they were unable to contend with Gloucester, who used considerable gamesmanship with the referee to find an advantage, regularly dissecting every decision with the official at length.
That advantage came on the 28th minute courtesy of Gloucester’s Jordan Young, who rolled the ball neatly into the far corner, helped by some statuesque defending.
Moments earlier an excellent run from Connor Woods cruelly came to nothing. A skilfull run along the left wing left him with space and a choice between a steep-angled shot or a layoff to an arriving Jack Bainbridge. Woods, probably correctly, opted to pass, though Bainbridge’s movement saw the ball placed in behind him and cleared.
Southport continued to probe through to the hour mark and nearly found success through several set pieces.
Josh Hmami was unlucky to avoid a debut goal, narrowly sending his effort wife of the post, before forcing another save from Jake Cole on the hour mark. Shortly after, Chris Doyle nodded an excellent ball into space, with no-one in the right position to receive it.
Another good run from Woods, with pirouettes to boot, was expertly dispatched to Bainbridge on the far side, who couldn’t get his shot on target.
Southport’s best chance fell to Marcus Carver, who found himself one on one with Cole after a foul Hmami saw advantage played and the ball knocked into his path, drawing a fine save from Cole.
It was Connor Woods who finally equalised, beautifully, for Southport on the 70 minute mark. Having drilled forward all afternoon, the winger was due a reward for his efforts. Steaming forward on the right hand edge of the area, defenders either side, Woods coolly slotted home into the bottom corner and wheeled away, arms aloft, without even breaking his stride.
Tempers finally flared with the final ten minutes approaching after a foul from Hmami prompted raised fists from Tom Harrison, sparking a small confrontation, and players being carded. Ryan Galvin joined them shortly after for cynically hacking down an advancing Connor Woods.
Southport will rue not claiming three points at the death. The Sandgrounders spent the final ten minutes peppering the Gloucester goal with shot after shot, but Liam Watson will still consider a point a solid return.
Gloucester’s solid efficiency will likely see them end the campaign towards the top of the table though it wouldn’t be surprising if their lack of discipline, at times akin to a toddler levelling a tantrum towards their parents, regularly cost them points throughout the season.
Southport can take confidence from the result, and the addition of Isaac Buckley-Ricketts, a stellar signing whose suprise omission was not explained by the club ahead of kick off, will inevitably make a huge difference.
A championship, like the previous opening day game against Gloucester in 2009 may be a stretch too far, but Southport today showed evidence that they could be a match for anyone in the division on the right day.
Southport starting lineup: Mason, Tharme, C Doyle, Anson, Oliver, J Doyle, Bainbridge, Benjamin (c), Hmami, Carver, Woods
Southport substitutes: McMillan, Munro, Vassallo, Archer, Watson
Gloucester starting lineup: Cole, Leadbitter, Galvin, Thomas, Piggott, Harrison, Robert, Dawson, Young, McClure, King
Gloucester substitutes: Armstrong, O’Sullivan, McGilp, Di Segni
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