Southport come from behind to beat local rivals Chorley 2-1

Football can be a strange game at times. At half time today Southport were 1-0 down and to be fair Chorley could have been out of site after a dreadful first half performance. The goal came from a Chorley corner that we failed to clear in the 36th minute.

Southport failed to register a shot at goal and were second to the ball and kept giving it away and it was all doom and gloom at half time.

What a transformation in the second period after a half time roasting from the boss.

Chris Doyle equalised with a header from a corner in the 46th minute and 5 minutes later Connor Woods raced away and applied a great finish and we were leading.

You simply could not have seen that as the half time whistle blew but as Liam said in his post match interview that first half was unacceptable and we owed a decent travelling support a much better display in the sescond half.

We had chances to extend the lead with Niall Watson going close and the lively Josh Miles who has always impressed in the short time he has come on to the pitch doing well.

Chorley also had chances to equalise but the irrepressible Tony McMillan was once again outstanding between the sticks. One save he made was absolutely stunning. Everyone thought it was going in but he was not to be beaten going down low to his right to turn the ball away. A save of the season contender at any level.

Liam Watson came under a lot of fire when Cam Mason was relesed but the last four games has seen Tony repay the faith he has in him in no fantastic fashion

You sometimes have to ride your luck in games and we did that in the first half and at times in the second period when the woodwork saved us but with a ‘keeper in such form the three points returned to Haig Avenue.

Line Up: McMillan, Quansah, J Doyle (Carberry 28), C Doyle, Anson, Munro, Woods(Miles 79), Archer, Heath (Walton 79), Bainbridge, Watson

Subs: Goudie, Oliver

Attendance : 1547

Media MOTM- There could only be one this afternoon, Tony McMillan defying his 41 years in supreme style.