Match Preview: Southport (a)
The Blues travel to Southport on Good Friday looking to build on last Saturday’s important victory over Darlington.
Tom Peers and Connor Woods grabbed the goals at the Deva, as we pulled five points clear inside the play-off spots.
The reverse clash with the Sandgrounders saw a goalless draw on New Year’s Day that preceded the Blues’ sensational seven-match winning run in early 2025.
The Opposition
It has been an inconsistent campaign for the Port that has landed the club just one place above the bottom four, but with survival confirmed thanks to a ten-point gap above Needham Market, who had relegation confirmed in midweek after Radcliffe’s victory over Farsley Celtic.
Our opponents have won just one of their last nine and have enjoyed success on just four occasions since the turn of the year, a stretch of form that led to the end of Jim Bentley’s 18-month reign at Haig Avenue,
The club’s most recent victory came on the road at Rushall Olympic in mid-March, courtesy of a brace from Luke Burgess.
This season marks Southport’s eighth consecutive campaign in the sixth tier, after a five year stay in the National League came to an end in 2017.
The Gaffer
Southport remain without a permanent manager after the aforementioned dismissal of Jim Bentley in mid-March.
The 48-year-old’s most notable stint in management came at Morecambe between 2012-19, before spells at both AFC Fylde and Rochdale.
David Morgan is currently in interim charge, a role that the 30-year-old also held before Bentley’s arrival at the start of the 2023/24 season.
The Northern Irishman started his playing career in the youth setup at Nottingham Forest but was released in 2014, with his most recent stints before moving to Southport coming with Fylde, Harrogate Town and Accrington Stanley.
One To Watch
Experienced midfielder Danny Philliskirk has been a crucial cog in Southport’s system since his arrival last summer, after an initial loan from AFC Fylde for the second half of last season was made permanent.
The 34-year-old made an impact on the opening day of this campaign with a brace that helped the club to a 3-1 win over Alfreton Town.
Philliskirk’s most notable spells came with Fylde and Oldham Athletic, but he also enjoyed play-off success in League Two with Blackpool in 2017.
The midfielder had a distinguished youth career, which featured a stint in the Chelsea academy and also saw him pick up three caps at England Under-17 level.
League Form Guide
Southport | W12 D13 L18 | F41 A56 | Pos: 20th
Last three
Scunthorpe United (A) | L 2-0 | Scorers: None
Oxford City (H) | D 2-2 | Scorers: Danny Lloyd, Will Russ
South Shields (A) | D 0-0 | Scorers: None
Chester FC | W22 D12 L9 | F67 A44 | Pos: 4th
Last three
Curzon Ashton (H) | D 1-1 | Scorers: Will Hayhurst (OG)
Hereford (A) | D 2-2 | Scorers: Tom Peers, Connor Woods
Darlington (H) | W 2-1 | Scorers: Tom Peers, Connor Woods
Match Preview by Tom Bird.
MATCH DETAILS
Kick off is 3pm on Good Friday at the Big Help Stadium. The postcode for the ground is PR8 6JZ..
TICKETS
We can confirm that segregation is in place as per previous seasons. Away supporters are strongly advised to purchase their tickets for this game in advance.
CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS!
Prices are as follows…
SEATED (MAIN STAND)
- Adults – £15
- Concessions – £11
- Aged 12-17 – £6
- Under 12’s* – FREE (*must be accompanied by an adult or concession)
STANDING (BLOWICK AWAY TERRACE)
- Adults – £13.50
- Concessions – £10
- Aged 12-17 – £5
- Under 12’s* – FREE (*must be accompanied by an adult or concession)
Concession includes aged 65+, full-time students, Blue Light Cardholders, Armed Forces’ members and disabled with carer, with ID in each case.
All Children Under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
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