Despite conceding early into the game, Southport scored five goals, including a first career hat-trick for Jack Sampson, to kick off their Emirates FA Cup campaign in style with a 5-2 victory over Scarborough Athletic.
The Port conceded just six minutes into the game, as James Walshaw cut inside from the left wing before curling his shot into the bottom right corner just out of the reach of Charlie Albinson.
But Southport responded quickly with Sampson rising highest to a Reagan Ogle throw in to head home in the 13th minute.
Glynn had a chance to put Port ahead in the 25th minute after he was brought down by Ryan Watson 30 yards from goal. His free kick curled around the wall before being palmed away by Thomas Taylor at full stretch.
Just eight minutes later Port came close again as a Ryan Astles header looked destined for the back of the net but was kept out by a goal line clearance.
But Scarborough’s luck had ran out and in the 39th minute Southport took the lead with an almost identical goal to their first. Loanee Ogle fired a long throw in into the box and this time it was Zehn Mohammed who rose to head home as the defender scored his second goal in seven days.
There were shouts for a penalty on the stroke of half time as Sampson was brought down in the box but the referee decided to award a free kick the opposite way claiming that the striker had his arm around the defender.
Southport looked much improved in the second half, doubling their lead in just the 54th minute with a fantastic flowing move as Raul Correia picked up the ball from an Albinson clearance and before passing across the edge of the area. Captain David Morgan left it for the on rushing Sampson who took two touches before slotting cooly past Taylor.
Four minutes later Southport went even further ahead as Ogle once again showed the threat he poses from throw ins as he sent in another long throw that Sampson rocketed up to head beyond Taylor and complete a superb hat trick.
As well as completing Sampson’s trio of goals, that goal also completed a hat trick of throw in assists for Reagan Ogle. A feat Rory Delap would be proud of!
With the game seemingly out of reach for the opposition, Liam Watson opted to make a triple substitution with hat trick hero Sampson, Glynn and Correia being replaced by Connor Woods, Paddy Lacey and new signing George Newell. It took just two minutes for that decision to pay off.
Woods did excellently to keep the ball in play at the byline before squeezing a low cross into the near post under pressure with Newell reacting quickly to tap the ball between Taylor’s legs and score with just his second touch in Southport colours.
Scarborough almost pulled one back in the 72nd minute as James Walshaw latched onto the end of a long ball over the top with his volley leaving Albinson stranded in No Man’s Land. But the keeper was quick with his reactions and scrambled back, grabbing onto the ball just before it crossed the line.
But the visitors would pull one back less than ten minutes later as Southport were penalised for a shirt pull in the box in the 79th minute. Michael Coulson stepped up to calmly place his penalty low to Albinson’s right, sending the keeper the wrong way.
But it was nothing more than a consolation as Southport held on to secure the victory and a place in Monday’s Third Round Qualifying draw.
Written by James Houghton
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