Southport 2 Darlington 0

For the second Saturday running, Quakers missed several good chances that cost them victory.

Just like last Saturday at North Ferriby, Quakers had enough chances to win the game by half time, and they paid the penalty in teh second half.

Quakers started with Dominic Collins at right back, and had plenty of early possession, and had their first chance when Mark Beck nodded the ball on for Stephen Thompson at full stretch, to lob the ball into the hands of keeper Mark Halstead.

Southport had a chance on 9 minutes when Chris Merrie crossed from the right, and Yves Zama headed just wide of the right hand post.

Josh Gillies then got involved on 11 minutes when he cut in from the left, and fired across goal with Thompson just unable to get a touch as he charged in.

Two minutes later, the ball dropped for Gillies to volley right footed towards goal, but Halstead saved well, and then in Quakers next attack, David Syers was inches wide from the edge of the box.

Quakers nearly took the lead on 21 minutes, when Phil Turnbull found Ferguson up the left, and his cross was met by Beck, whose header was well saved by Halstead. From the corner, Beck’s header dropped just wide.

Southport had a great chance on 31 minutes, White crossed from the left, the offside trap failed Dominic Smith was completely unmarked in the middle, and from six yards out, blazed over the bar.

Quakers though were soon back at the other end, and Syers header from a Gillies corner was held by Halstead, then Thompson spun well on the edge of the box to get away from his marker, and hit a low right foot shot that beat Halstead but struck the post.

Half time

Southport 0 Darlington 0

Southport started the second half brightly with Bradley Jackson going close, and they took the lead on 48 minutes when Zama got past Burgess and pulled the ball back for Chris Sang to tap in.

Bartlett then pulled off a brave save to stop a second, when Sang broke through and Bartlett saved at his feet, and then dived bravely at Zama to stop him scoring.

Quakers then had to reshuffle, with Galbraith coming off injured, and teenager Jack Vaulks replacing him and moving over to right back

Quakers had a half chance when Ferguson crossed for Beck to nod the ball down for Caton to have a shot blocked, then Gillies curled a 25 yard free kick over the wall into Halstead’s hands.

Southport almost caught Quakers on 72 minutes when Ethan Jones got round the back and crossed for Sang to execute an overhead kick that went just wide.

Quakers had a good chance on 80 minutes when Beck nodded down a left wing cross for Gillies 10 yards out, but Gillies seemed to lose his footing and miskicked.

Quakers nearly levelled with three minutes left when Beck nodded down a left wing cross, and Caton’s shot was well saved by Halstead.

Howeve r, in the second minute of stoppage time, Southport got a second with a left shot by Chris Merrie that seemed to swerve past Bartlett to give them the points and leave Quakers shaking their heads again.

Bartlett, Collins, Ferguson, Turnbull, Burgess. Galbraith (sub Vaulks 57), Thompson (sub Portas 69), Syers (sub Saunders 74), Beck, Caton, Gillies

Sub: Scott, Wilczynski,

Booking: Collins

Southport

Halstead, Merrie, White, Jones, Dugdale, Smith, Jackson, Jennings (sub Fletcher 64), Roberts, Zama (sub Jones 60), Sang

Subs:  Schumacher, Kpohomouh, Boden

Booking: Dugdale , Roberts

Referee: B Speedie