From the brink of glory: Southport's semi-final heartbreak a 1-3 defeat

A crowd of 5,600, the largest at Haig Avenue since 1974 when Southport were in the Third Division, had come in hope of witnessing something that would be talked about for years to come, and for a while it looked as though Southport might give them exactly that. With Southport falling short here and Marine also beaten, the Wembley final will instead be contested between Southend and Wealdstone.

For 45 minutes, though, it felt possible.

In difficult conditions, with a strong wind swirling across the ground, Southport more than held their own against opponents from a division above who are pushing for the play-offs. Southend had the better of the early chances, forcing blocks in the box and striking the outside of the post, but the longer the half went on, the more the game settled into something Southport could manage. And when the moment came, they took it.

A loose pass in midfield opened the door and allowed Southport to turn defence into attack quickly. The ball was moved forward with intent by Malakai McKenzie, and Chris Sze applied the finish, sliding the ball into the corner to send Haig Avenue into raptures. It was a goal that fitted both the moment and the run that had brought them here, built on awareness, timing, and taking the chance when it presented itself. At that stage, with the interval approaching, there was a genuine sense that something significant might be unfolding. At half-time, they were 45 minutes from Wembley.

Southend emerged for the second half however with greater intensity and began to play higher up the pitch. Within ten minutes of the restart, they had turned the tie around. The first, from Charley Kendall, came from a run in behind that Southport were unable to recover, and before there was time to properly regroup, the second, by Jack Bridge, followed from close range after the initial danger had not been fully cleared. In the space of a few minutes, the balance of the tie had turned.

From that point, Southport found it increasingly difficult to regain any control. Playing into the wind made it harder to build attacks with any consistency, while Southend were able to dictate the tempo more comfortably and use the ball with greater confidence.

The third goal, Kendall’s second, with 15 minutes to go, cutting inside and finishing into the top corner, effectively settled the contest, a moment of real quality that underlined the difference between the sides on the day.

There was still effort and commitment in the closing stages, but clear openings were limited, and the game drifted away. A late red card for Chris Renshaw, coming as Southend broke forward again, added to the sense that the afternoon had moved beyond Southport’s reach.

The disappointment at the final whistle was obvious, particularly given how close the game had felt at half-time, but it sat alongside an understanding of the challenge that had been faced. Southport had led, had competed well for long periods, and had matched a side from a higher division for much of the contest before the momentum shifted.

For much of the season, Southport have been in a relegation battle but instead, they have spent the spring playing in front of a packed Haig Avenue, competing in a national semi-final. Perhaps just as significant as the result was the occasion itself. Haig Avenue was full in a way it has not been for a generation, and for long stretches there was a belief around the ground that Southport could take the final step. That sense of belief, and the run that created it, should not be lost in the outcome.

Southport fell short on the day, but not without showing that they belonged in the tie, and not without reminding everyone of what this club can still be when the ground is full and there is something on the line.

There had been talk of an all-Sefton final, but instead both sides return to league action and will meet at Haig Avenue on Good Friday, when Southport face Marine in a local derby shaped by what might have been.

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Report By Daniel Hayes,southportcentral.co.uk