Southport 5-1 Forest Green Rovers!

Southport 5-1 Forest Green Rovers
Southport rounded off their Nationwide Conference campaign with a resounding 5-1 victory of Forest Green Rovers, ensuring the 'Port finish in 15th position in the final table. Forest Green did not mount much of a challenge throughout the afternoon, with the home side taking the initiative early on in the game. The first real chance fell to Lee Elam, who jumped through three challenges to set himself up for a goal scoring chance, but Jason Pearcey comfortably collected his shot. Southport were one up moments later when Elam ran through, passing the ball to Steve Jones, slotting the ball home under the legs of Pearcey following a slight deflection, throwing the keeper off course. Forest Green were forced to substitute their keeper in the 28th minute when an attempted shot of the ball by Steve Whitehall landed in the arm of Pearcey, who went off with a suspected broken arm. This meant that first team regular keeper, Steve Perrin, was put in the fray, Southport continued the pressure, always seeking a second goal. Simon Parke played a perfect pass to Steve Whitehall, but Whitehall's volley fired over the bar. The visitors equalized in the 34th minute when Mark Cooper fired home a penalty, after Steve Dickinson had brought down Carl Heggs. Southport failed to capitalize from their pressure before half time, with Steve Jones heading just wide from an Andy Scott free kick, and Whitehall hitting the post from a Chris Lane cross. The home side restored their lead within three minutes of the second half, when Rob Cousins attempted to clear a Scott free kick, but the failed clearance fell into the path of Parke who had no difficulty in slotting the ball in from close range. Chris Lane's efforts in trying to add to the tally nearly paid off when his powerful free kick was skillfully parried away by Perrin however, a minute later Perrin somehow managed to fumble Steve Jones' tame header behind the line, to make it 3-1.Steve Dickinson was sent off on the hour mark, for his second bookable offence after handling the ball outside his area. In protesting that Dickinson should be sent off, Matthew Coupe found himself unnecessarily yellow carded by the referee. Phil Morgan came on to replace him, meaning that Steve Whitehall was the sacrificial player to allow Morgan to come on. As we have seen at Haig Avenue before this season, the ten players of Southport raised their game, finding themselves 4-1 in front when Parke dummied Phil Morgan's clearance, with the ball going through to Lee Elam, slotting the ball under the advancing keeper. Southport rounded off the afternoon with Steve Jones completing his hat-trick (Southport's first of the season!) banging in number 5 with a left foot, edge of area, drive, giving Perrin no chance.

Teams:-

Southport:- Dickinson, Lane, Scott, Teale, B.Jones (Howell, 73), Clark, Elam (Mulvaney, 82), S.Jones, Parke, Whitehall (Morgan, 61), Grayston.

Subs not used:- Macauley, Robertson.
Forest Green:- Pearcey (Perrin, 28), Cousins, Jenkins, Cooper, Lee, Coupe, Travis (Adams, 46), Tearney (Meechan, 59), Heggs, Hopkins, Futcher.Subs not used: Impey, Sykes.

Match Statistics:-
Port v Forest Green
17 Goal Attempts 12 
11 On target 4 
5 Off target 8 
1 Woodwork 0 
3 Corners 4 
7 Fouls 15  

4 Offside 4  MATCH REPORT BY COLIN HILL