Southport slump to a dour home defeat to Kettering Town

Southport slipped to a 1-0 defeat at home to Kettering in a game decided from the penalty spot.

With Jordan Archer ruled out by illness, Liam Watson’s selection issues were deepened when the first incident of note was midfielder Charlie Munro pulling up with a muscle injury off the ball.

A drab first half ensued with Southport’s best “chance” of the opening 45 coming on the half mark as Tyler Walton found himself in a 2-on-2 situation after a defensive mix-up from Kettering. The make-shift striker tried to slide the ball across to Niall Watson but Chris Smith was rushing back to make a crucial sliding interception.

The best chance of the first half fell to the visitors though as Chris Smith went around Cam Mason to the byline before chipping the ball back into the danger area with Ty Deacon waiting to nod home into the now empty net, only for to be denied by a crucial header by Adam Anson.

This chance seemed to spring Kettering into life as less than a minute later Deacon found himself played through on goal but struggled to get the ball out from under his feet and that allowed Cam Mason to rush off his line and claim the ball at the feet of Deacon, leaving both needing physio attention.

Southport started the second half well. Josh Hmami and Tyler Walton crafted a chance inside the box for the former with a clever one-two but Hmami’s shot across the face of the mouth was from a tight angle and failed to strain Kettering goalkeeper Jackson Smith.

Kettering threatened to take the lead not long after as Jackson Smith launched a counter-attack, finding Connor Bennett on the right-wing, who cut inside of Jack Doyle before firing across the goalmouth, just out of reach for the onrushing Deacon.

But the game would be decided on the hour mark as Josh Hmami brought down Alex Brown inside the box with referee Dale Baines pointing to the spot. Decarrey Sheriff stepped up with a slow run-up slotting into the bottom corner.

However, Southport will be incensed at not having their own penalty in the dying minutes as Chris Doyle was brought down in a headlock in the second minute of injury time. But referee Baines waved it away.

Report By James Houghton