MATCH REPORT | Southport 1 – 1 York City

Alan Lewer was philosophical as he reflected on the sending off that changed the course of this game, but having seen his Southport team develop a quiet sense of momentum in the opening weeks, he must have known that a good start to the season was so close to being even better.

Leading 1-0 against sixth-place York City with 11 minutes to play, the Sandgrounders were in command at the time that Jack Sampson was shown a straight red card for what referee Martin Woods deemed to be the use of an elbow in an aerial challenge with Hamza Bencherif.

Within three minutes, York had equalised through Sean Newton, and while the general consensus was that a draw was fair, Southport left the pitch with a sense of what might have been.

The Sandgrounders remain in third place in the Vanarama National League North after extending their unbeaten run to six matches – a start that the manager admits has exceeded his expectations.

Although Southport and York were relegated from the National League last season, both teams have undergone contrasting summers.

While York have bolstered their squad, Lewer has had to assemble one completely from scratch, and this was further evidence of just how quickly the Southport players have gelled.

After a tight first half, Gary Roberts put the Sandgrounders in front on 56 minutes, lofting a shot over goalkeeper Jon Worsnop from a narrowing angle after receiving a long ball forward from the excellent Curtis Jones.

Arguably the best chance of the opening half came right at the start but Bencherif did not anticipate that he would be left alone inside the six-yard box from Newton’s deep free-kick, sending his shot straight at goalkeeper Iain Turner.

Southport needed Turner to make a parrying save from Louis Almond’s low angled shot and push wide a 20-yard drive from Newton after the York midfielder had won the ball from Brad Jackson.

Once ahead, however, the Sandgrounders looked to turn the screw, creating chances as Ethan Jones shot wide and Alex Fletcher blazed the loose ball over after goalkeeper Worsnop had punched Jackson’s cross.

Sampson also went close after a good turn had opened up a way to goal, but the striker’s dismissal was the cue for a York fightback.

No sooner had Sampson left the pitch than Newton’s cross-shot drifted in from the right wing, over Turner and under the Southport crossbar.

Southport stood strong in the face of York pressure, but goalkeeper Turner had to make his most impressive save of the game, turning Jon Parkin’s stoppage-time effort around the near post.

Southport (3-5-2): Turner, Smith, Dugdale, C Jones, Jackson, Roberts (Fletcher 72), Jennings (Kpohomouh 84), Schumacher, White, Sampson, E Jones (Zama 76).
Subs not used: Roache, Sang.

York City (4-3-3): Worsnop, Law, Parslow, Bencherif, Whittle, Hislop, Moke (Sukar 17, Muggleton 62), Newton, Morgan-Smith, Rankine, Almond (Parkin 62).
Subs not used: Connolly, Felix.

Attendance: 1,177

Referee: Martin Woods

Report by Alan Jones