Terry Fearns helped Southport to second place
in the Conference North with a quickfire double.
In
a decisive seven minute first half spell Port flew into
a two goal lead stunning Altrincham, who had only conceded
four goals in six previous Nationwide North outings.
And Fearns netted both goals, taking his personal Port
tally to six.
Altrincham aided by a freakish 72nd minute Farrell Kilbane
own goal gave the Sandgrounders a stern second half test
at a storm-ravaged Haig Avenue. Fearns ran onto a great
14th minute ball from Kevin Lynch and with clinical efficiency
from 18 yards placed a low shot on the run past Stuart
Coburn inside the right hand post.
It was 2-0 when Fearns launched himself at a Carl Baker
right wing hanging centre and bravely from close range
headed past Coburn.
Fearns was denied a hat-trick by the advancing Coburn
in the 35th minute when Chris Price again pierced the
Robins' rearguard with a central through ball creating
a one on one situation.
This was not a one-way affair, Colin Little fired in a
testing 30th minute long-ranger which was well held by
Steve Dickinson and a minute later Little sliced wide
from six yards on the right hand post.
Former Lancaster City winger Colin Potts also had an opportunity
from close range but the bounce eluded him.
Coburn did well in the 39th minute to palm aside a Jerome
Fitzgerald angled header.
Altrincham seized the initiative at the start of the second
half with Neill Hardy putting in a low strike on the turn
that Dickinson did well to block. Ex-Port striker Peter
Wright came on in the 64th minute with Graham Heathcote
switching the Robins to three up front.
As the rain torrented down Altrincham gained a 72nd minute
lifeline following interplay on the right from Stephen
Aspinall and Potts. Aspinall's wind assisted centre spun
off Farrell Kilbane's head into the top far corner.
In stoppage time Dickinson made a stretching save with
his legs to deflect away Mark Maddox's 14 yard drive.
Liam Watson, after seeing his side's third successive
victory which put them up to second, said: "I genuinely
believe Altrincham are a good side and it was pleasing
to open them up quite so easily.
"Terry Fearns could have had a first half hat-trick
and we could have been four up. We then had to defend
which we did effectively.
Southport: Dickinson, Williams, Pickford,
Kilbane, Fitzhenry, Lynch, Baker, Price, Fearns (Mulvanney
84), Robinson (Daly 79), Fitzgerald.
Subs not used: Lowe, Davis, Morley.
Referee: Mr B Roberts (Leyland)
Att: 967 |
