Southport 2 Curzon Ashton 4

A second 4-2 defeat in a row as once again defensive frailities are exposed.

Whilst in the game against Marine on Boxing Day, we had claims to be a bit unlucky; we were well beaten this evening by a very impressive Curzon Ashton side.

A slow start when we hardly had a kick of the ball in the opening seven minutes saw former ‘Port player Brad Holmes open the scoring in the 6th minute.

Southport were then gifted a goal by our visitors with a poor back pass seized upon by Malakai McKenzie who finished one on one with the ‘keeper in the 21st minute.

It didn’t take long for Curzon to regain the leda with Alex Curran scoring a fine goal eight minutes later.

1-2 at half time and work to do.

Brad Holmes with an excellent finish from the edge of the area made it 1-3 on 58 minutes

Southport were then awarded a free kick just outside the area which Luke Griffiths stepped up to steer into the top corner and it was game on 2-3.

Hope was high that Southport could go on and get at least a point out of the game but that hope was extinguished two minutes later when Brad Holmes completed his first ever hat trick in senior football.

Southport did keep going until the end and created a couple of good chances but always looked vulnerable on the break.

It ended in defeat on a bad night that once again saw a key player injured when Tom Moore left the field in the first half and was seen on crutches at the end of the match.

Line Up: Renshaw, Edwards, Dwyer, Moore (Pickles 42), Minihan, Lavelle, (Lloyd 82) Hilton, Griffiths, McKenzie, Gnahoua(Slew 57), Sze(Touray 57)

Subs Not Used: Collins, Burgess, Maieco

Attendane 1098

Sponsors Man Of The Match receiving the Adam Le Roi Trophy was Luke Griffiths