Southport 2 Oxford City 2

Four second half goals saw Southport draw 2-2 with Oxford City at the Big Help Stadium. Strikes from Danny Lloyd and Will Russ were cancelled out by Jalen Jones and Jayden Carbon as neither side could find a crucial winner.

The match started sluggishly, with neither team imposing themselves on the game nor mastering the blustery weather conditions. Expert defending from Sam Minihan helped prevent Oxford from getting an early opportunity to break the deadlock, and more strong defensive work prevented Sonny Hilton from slotting past keeper Laurie Walker shortly before half time.

The game burst into life in the second half as early Southport endeavour saw the Sandgrounders go close shortly after the restart. However, it was the visitors that would strike first, and a clever move down the left wing allowed Jones to tap in from close range at the back post on the 55thminute.

But it was cometh the hour cometh the man for Southport, as Lloyd responded instantly and poked the ball through a sea of bodies and into the back of the net as the game hit its 60thminute.

Just 10 minutes later the game had turned around, and Southport took the lead via a flick at the front post from Russ following a brilliant move down the right wing. Burgess with a smart reverse pass found Hilton whose precise cross into the six-yard box couldn’t be missed by the striker.

The game wasn’t over yet though, and Oxford fought back to make the game all square with 15 minutes to play. Substitute Carbon converted from close range following a defensive mix up.

Southport went close to retaking their lead in the final stages through a venomous Minihan strike, but expert goalkeeping from Walker ensured the match finished level.

The Sandgrounders are back in action at the Big Help Stadium on Good Friday 18thApril when we take on Chester after a trip to South Shields next Saturday and a Lancashire Challenge Trophy Final Tie at Leyland against Bacup Borough on Wednesday April 16th.

Report By Alfie Bugg