Bootle 0 Southport 1. Watson scores the winner

Southport made the short trip to Bootle and in a scrappy game came away with a 1-0 win with a Niall Watson goal in the 65th minute the only goal of the game.

The game was marred by what looked, at the time, like a nasty injury to new striker Nyal Bell but thankfully after the game reports suggest it may not be as bad as it had appeared.

Bootle started the game the brighter and had a great chance to take the lead in the 9th minute but the shot went flying over the bar.

The nearest Southport came to taking the lead was a header from Adam Anson which hit the post from a Charlie Munro corner.

Some neat inter play between Niall Watson and sub Jordan Archer who had replaced the stricken Bell saw Josh Hmami go close to giving the visitors the lead but the chance was dragged narrowly wide.

Watson finally broke the deadlock midway through the second half after a fine run by one of two trialists on show was bundled home at the back post.

Chances were scarce for both sides as the game petered out but it’s another 90 minutes in the tank and getting up to full fitness is what it is all abiut at this stage of the season.