Southport 3-0 Vauxhall Motors

Mar 31 2010 by Our Correspondent, Birkenhead News

PROMOTION chasing Southport took all three points against the Motormen at Haig Avenue to dent Vauxhalls hopes of avoiding the drop in the Blue Square North.

Vauxhalls have just four games remaining to claw themselves up the league table.

However, with teams around them having a number of games in hand, time is running out.

The scoreline was perhaps flattering for the Sandgrounders as possession wise Vauxhalls matched them but the difference in the two sides was in the final third of the pitch with Southport always looking dangerous with Steve Daly and Chris Simm in attack.

The first clear cut chance fell to Simm after 10 minutes with the ball looped over to him by Daly but he somehow got underneath it and shot over from six yards.

Southport broke the deadlock on 31 minutes from an unlikely source. The ball was crossed into the box and on loan Vauxhall defender Rory Winters, under no pressure, headed into his own net.

Motors best chance fell to Lee Furlong just after the interval when he connected well to a Brian Moogan free kick but his diving header was well saved by Tony McMillan.

Chances were few and far between for both sides and Southport had to wait until the 61st minute for their second goal. After being played in by Matty McGinn, Steve Daly found himself one-on-one with James Coates and comfortably slotted the ball past the onrushing Vauxhall keeper.

The home side grabbed their third goal of the game on 75 minutes when Simm headed home from a corner whipped in from the left.

Things got worse for the Motormen minutes later when Lee Dames was sent off.