Match Report – Non-League Paper – 10/12/2023

SPIREITES SHOW REAL SIX APPEAL

The Non-League Football Paper

By Liam Norcliffe

A YOUTHFUL Chesterfield side thrashed Southport to march on in the Isuzu FA Trophy. The National League leaders made nine changes, with three academy prospects handed starts, and three more came off the bench, including Liam Jessop, who grabbed a brace and Ali Mohiuddin, who curled in from distance, but they still had more than enough to secure their place in the next round. The National League North visitors went ahead through Richie Bennett on 17 minutes but goals from Michael Jacobs and Harley Curtis turned the scoreline around before half-time. James Berry’s fantastic individual effort made it 3-1 on the hour before youngsters Jessop and Mohiuddin got in on the act. Bennett finished from inside the area after good work by the lively Niall Watson but Jacobs turned in Jeff King’s cross and then Curtis slotted in to give Chesterfield the advantage at the break. Berry danced between three or four Southport players to make it 3-1 before Jessop’s cross somehow found its way in. He then fired in from close-range after linking-up with fellow academy prospect Thomas Marshall before Mohiuddin curled in a beauty. Before the goals flooded in Southport, who were backed by a vocal away support, had had a couple of chances to get themselves back in the game but they still couldn’t prevent a heavy defeat. STAR MAN: Sam Hooper (Chesterfield) ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★