Three Gift Goals – Two of them to Southport

SOUTHPORT 4, NEWPORT COUNTY 2.

With two defences so jittery it was surprising that the goal tally was not doubled. As it was three of the six were gifts, and in some respects Newport was unfortunate to return home pointless.

The smallest crowd of the season, 2,830, saw the goal feast start in the eighth minute, when Latham, a dangerous outside left, swung over a centre and inside right Peat dived to head a brilliant goal.

Southport scored a second in the 14th minute. Newport tried to employ an offside trap, but it was beaten by a quick pass out to Dagger on the right wing, and he centred for Russell, the former Everton junior, to head through in fine style.

MISKICKED

Hopes of a runaway Southport win were dashed as, two minutes later, Newport were on level terms. In the 15th minute a centre from the left was miskicked by Wallace, and the ball went to the feet of Bonson who easily netted. This was gift number one. A minute later left half Hill linked up with his attack and centred for Hunt to rise above everyone else and head into the net.

Southport’s lead was restored in the 54th minute when Rathbone, the Newport centre half, handled a Latham centre, and Dagger scored his first League goal for Southport from the penalty. Gift number two. The third gift came in the 70th minute when the hard-working Spence — he had two goals disallowed for offside — centred from the left.

LOST CONTROL

Russell, who was in a good position, failed to gain control and allowed the ball to run away from him, but Bird, in attempting to clear, put the ball back to the feet of Russell and this time Southport’s inside left made no mistake.

Southport’s attack was lively enough, but the defence was not as steady as in recent games, although Darwell, at centre half, did not put a foot wrong.

Harris, recalled at the last minute in goal, made one or two fine saves, but also gave a number of anxious moments by dropping the ball.