Southport slumped to a third successive defeat as they were beaten 2-1 at home by fellow National League North strugglers Spennymoor Town.
Ben Pollock and a second-half goal from Mikael Ndjoli secured a comeback win for the strugglers to earn their first win since November. Josh Hmami opened the scoring but the Yellows failed to capitalise on their strong start.
The defeat leaves Port in the bottom four, after their 3-0 defeat at Boston on Saturday and a draw for King’s Lynn saw them slip to 21st, with the threat of relegation a real prospect.
Jim Bentley’s side were quick out of the traps as they looked to return to winning ways, following back-to-back defeats to Alfreton Town and Boston United. Southport were almost in front through Festus Arthur as his effort rattled the post before Marcus Carver’s follow-up was scrambled clear.
But, they were rewarded for their pressure as Hmami opened the scoring. The midfielder cut back onto his right foot and fired low into the back of the net, with the help of a deflection, rounding off an intricate passage of play.
However, they were almost pegged back immediately when Rob Ramshaw had a free header – but Chris Renshaw had to be at his best to tip over at full stretch.
The injury to their goalscorer seemingly curtailed the shape of the squad, as well as the fluidity, which haunted the hosts. Southport lost their way and found themselves under the cosh.
They didn’t learn from their earlier warning from Ramshaw and after 31 minutes, an unmarked Pollock headed in the leveller.
Southport managed to head in at the break level but they would have been relieved as Donald Chimalilo sparked into life, late on in the first-half. The pacey ringer flashed one past Renshaw’s far post before the woodwork came to the goalkeeper’s rescue after his looping effort rattled the crossbar.
The half-time team-talk didn’t appear to rejuvenate the hosts and nine minutes later they were behind. Ndjoli powered home into the roof of the net after great play down the left from Reece Staunton.
Falling behind did spark a reaction from Southport with Matty Thomson, Luke Burgess and Tyler Walton going close, the latter hitting the bar. But while they threatened going forward, it wasn’t entirely one-way traffic and it was Moors who had the best opportunities.
Renshaw, who would be named Player of the Match, denied substitute Will Harris, Ramshaw and Ndjoli to maintain a one-goal deficit.
Despite the introduction of Will Russ and Jordan Archer – making his first appearance since October 2023 – the Yellows were blunt in their attack and lacked real creativity as they were consigned to a seventh defeat in their last 10 matches.
It has been a rollercoaster of a season already for Sandgrounders’ fans, manager Bentley has enjoyed the ups but more recently frequent down’s of the National League North season.
There is hope as they remain in the bottom four on goal difference having played two games less than King’s Lynn. But a tough run beckons for Port as they host four out of the five playoff hopefuls.
The positive start soon turned flat and the defeat to Spennymoor can be viewed as an opportunity missed. The threat to their National League status looms eerily large, accompanied by the lowly attendance of 532 – the lowest for 31 years, answers and inspiration are needed to come from within the dressing room.
Turning point
Southport assistant manager Andy Burgess believes the untimely injury to goalscorer Josh Hmami derailed the Sandgrounders’ positive start – but says they must find a way to deal with situations.
The 23-year-old showed positive signs and deserved his goal after 16 minutes, as the Yellows looked dangerous from the off.
A collision saw Hmami withdrawn from the game through injury and forced manager Jim Bentley into an early change. Burgess feels the impact of the substitution knocked Southport off course but believes they must deal with those moments better.
He told Off The Park: “For 20 to 25 minutes, until Josh Hmami went off, we played really well, created a few chances, on the front foot and causing problems – it was a bright start.
“When you have them, you want a goal, we got that and it was positive. But it was such a sloppy goal, the gaffer prides himself on being strong from set-pieces and clean-sheets, he’s (Pollock) got away and looped a header in.
“We huffed and puffed second-half but they had as many chances as us, we hit the bar but it wasn’t good enough.
“(Josh going off) Changed the shape, we moved Marcus (Carver) to the left, Luke Burgess inside and it took fluidity out. Josh is good at running on, Luke coming inside and Marcus is a different player to Luke off the left, it was causing problems but if there’s different pegs in different holes, they have to perform to the best of their ability.
“We point to that as a turning point in the game but we can’t say ‘we did well for 25 minutes, Josh went off and it didn’t’, we’ve got to find a way of doing something different to continue playing well and that’s on us.” We’ll look at that as a management team, we’ll get a plan together, we’ve got to put a group out who are focused and ready to take on a good Brackley side.”
Prospect of relegation clear for Southport
Their 3-0 defeat to the Pilgrims on Saturday and a win for relegation rivals King’s Lynn Town saw them move into the relegation places for the first time since September 5.
There have been highs and lows for Jim Bentley since he succeeded Liam Watson. Their win over Darlington last month looked to be the turning point in their rut but postponements seemingly hampered momentum, and disappointing slumps against Alfreton Town and Boston have compounded misery.
Tuesday’s defeat raised alarming signs, in particular the lack of attacking edge and creativity with the introduction of Will Russ and Jordan Archer, joining Richie Bennett in the forward positions. As they chased the game, Tyler Walton rattled the crossbar but it was still Chris Renshaw who was the busier of the two goalkeepers.
“We’ve got players capable but at the reason we’re not doing it, we’re doing it for periods of the game but it’s not long enough,” Burgess added. “We have to stand up and be counted for the whole 90 minutes, it’s hard to say but we’ve got players capable of playing higher and dictating games.
“It’s frustrating, disappointing and everyone will be hurt right now, we’ve got to reflect on it but we’ve got to quickly turn out attention to Saturday and address our problems. Conceding goals is the top and bottom of it, we’ve got to work as a whole team to stop doing that, our base has to be stopping conceding.
“We pride ourselves on not conceding goals, we were solid when Jim came in. We were efficient, we stopped crosses, efficient and we’ve come away from that.
“We’ve got to get back to it quickly, it’s the same group of players (who starred in the run), they’re capable of doing it we’ve got to do it on a more consistent basis and do better as a group. Ultimately, we have to work harder, we will, we have to stick together otherwise we might as well give up.
“It’s a good group in terms of personalities but now we’ve got to be a bit tougher, resilient, horrible and nasty at times to keep the ball out, it’s got to start Saturday.”
The Southport assistant manager continued: “Without a shadow of a doubt, we are (in a dogfight) and there’s a lot to play for. We’re aware of that, we know what’s at stake, how much this club means to the town.
“Five-hundred people here tonight, they’re not coming at the minute, the results aren’t right on pitch and it’s only us who can do something about it.”
[Featured image: Julia Urwin – Southport FC]
