Southport

Southport set to surprise rivals
While Wigan Athletic celebrate completing their remarkable rise through the divisions, the team they replaced in the Football League is also on the climb again. In 1978, Wigan were elected into the League at the expense of Southport, who just six years earlier had won the Fourth Division title. The two clubs have continued to go their separate ways since. But now, thanks to their promotion back to the Conference, Port are once again looking up. "We're back to where we belong. But this is only a start. We have to push on, get a higher profile and see where it takes us," manager Liam Watson told BBC Sport. Watson was the man Southport turned to in their hour of need in October 2003 - six months after they were relegated from the Conference. In 2001, Port had finished fourth in the Conference under Mark Wright but that momentum had been lost following Wright's move to Oxford and Watson inherited a team struggling in the UniBond League. "When I went to Southport there were no exciting prospects. Now there are four or five who could have proper league careers if they are looked after," he said. Watson, now 34, was not steeped in managerial experience but had been given a tough grounding at Runcorn and his ambition and stomach for the scrap sparked a transformation. He added: "As a player I always had to fight to prove myself. I went from Sunday League, to the North-West Counties, to the UniBond League and to the Football League. "I won England (semi-professional) caps and that has been a good grounding for me. When you get somewhere special you enjoy it. "I have never felt so comfortable at a club as I do at Southport. I think the club has taken a step backwards to go forwards. "It's not what it wanted to do but sometimes drastic action only happens after something traumatic has happened. "Southport is the type of club where once you raise expectations you have to match them, and I understand that and will be working very hard to try and achieve that." Watson, whose League football came at Preston North End, totally re-built Southport's squad and in his first full season in charge has just guided the club to the Conference North title. The Sandgrounders led from a long way out and managed to hold their nerve to win the league thanks to seven victories in their final eight games. The Conference National will now provide a stage for talents like striker Steve Daly, winger Kevin Leadbitter and midfielders Dominic Morley and Carl Baker. Most eye-catching, though, could be striker Terry Fearns, who has chalked up a remarkable tally of over 150 goals in his last four seasons with Port and Vauxhall Motors. "He is an out-and-out goalscorer and will do it at most levels. How nobody has come in for Terry is a joke," said Watson, who has the former Wigan youngster under contract for a further two years. Watson, whose predecessors in the Haig Avenue hot-seat include former Northern Ireland boss Billy Bingham, plans to keep the bulk of his title-winning squad together. There will also be new signings and despite the fact that Port will remain part-time, for now at least, Watson refuses to use the word consolidate for next season's prospects. "That means you go into games expecting to lose," he said. "We want to re-establish ourselves as a Conference club. We will have a good time and play good football. "Someone said to me it was like a Championship club going into the Premiership. But they always tend to struggle to stay up and I don't think we will be in that scenario. "I don't want to say we will do this or do that. But I think we will surprise a few people with the firepower we have got. We are young and we are all developing together."

Conference fixtures are announced
Cambridge United's first Conference game, following their relegation from the Football League, will be away at Forest Green Rovers on 13 August. Meanwhile, Kidderminster Harriers start life outside the League with a home game against Woking. Conference newcomers Altrincham, Grays and Southport have all been handed ties away from home on the opening day. Grays visit Burton Albion, Southport travel to Dagenham & Redbridge while Altrincham go to Stevenage Borough. All the Conference fixtures As is customary, Boxing Day features a number of "derbies" - such as York v Scarborough - with the return fixtures on 2 January. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nationwide Conference opening day fixtures (Saturday, 13 August): Accrington Stanley v Canvey Island Aldershot Town v Tamworth Burton Albion v Grays Athletic Dagenham & Redbridge v Southport Forest Green Rovers v Cambridge United Gravesend & Northfleet v Exeter City Hereford United v Scarborough Kidderminster Harriers v Woking Morecambe v Halifax Town Stevenage Borough v Altrincham York City v Crawley Town Tuesday, 16 August Altrincham v Accrington Stanley Cambridge United v Hereford United Canvey Island v Aldershot Town Crawley Town v Dagenham & Redbridge Exeter City v Kidderminster Harriers Grays Athletic v Gravesend & Northfleet Halifax Town v Burton Albion Scarborough v Morecambe Southport v York City Tamworth v Forest Green Rovers Woking v Stevenage Borough

Southport 1-4 York
York City striker Joe O'Neill scored a hat-trick on his debut as his side thrashed newly-promoted Southport. O'Neill opened the scoring after only three minutes, heading in David McGurk's neat flick-on. Southport striker Steve Daly struck for the second successive game to level th scores with a low left-footed shot. But Mark Convery steered in a Darren Mansaram cross before O'Neill headed in Clayton Donaldson's centre and finished his treble with a close-range effort. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southport: Dickinson, Lane, Kilbane, Davis, Fitzgerald, Baker (Booth 73), Pickford, Krief (Lynch 45), Leadbetter (McGinn 69), Fearns, Daly. Subs Not Used: Speare, Robinson. Booked: Fitzgerald, Pickford. Goals: Daly 6. York: Porter, Price, McGurk, Hotte, Peat, Panther, Dunning, Mansaram (Bishop 54), O'Neill (Stewart 83), Convery (Merris 90), Donaldson. Subs Not Used: Afandjyev, Mallon. Booked: Peat, Mansaram. Goals: O'Neill 3, Convery 19, O'Neill 37, 81. Att: 1,646. Ref: S Cummins (Runcorn).

Southport hoping Fearns will stay
Southport manager Liam Watson hopes highly-rated striker Terry Fearns will stay at Haig Avenue. Port have received an enquiry from a rival Conference side for Fearns, 27, but Watson is keen to hold on to him. "There has been interest and I told him about it but he said he was happy at Southport, which is what I wanted to hear," Watson told BBC Sport. "It's up to Terry to make the decision but he has just signed a new two-year contract and I want him to stay." Watson added: "He did a lot almost single-handedly to get us up last year and he deserves the opportunity to play at this level, where I am sure he will score goals." Ironically, the prolific Fearns, who scored 41 times for the Sandgrounders last season, was left out of the Southport side which collected its first win since promotion against Stevenage on Saturday. "He accepted it and that shows the character of the lad," said Watson, who was pleased to see his side recover from two opening defeats. "The York game was a horrendous day at the office, but there is a lot of spirit in the team and they came back strongly," Watson added. "We were playing against one of the supposed championship-elect sides but I thought we out-footballed Stevenage. "I know that we will adapt and go on to do okay. Sometimes with younger players you have to give them time to find their feet but they have got ability and the right hunger."

Southport 3-2 Burton Albion
Neil Robinson struck another double to steer Southport to a nervy win. The 25-year-old striker, who scored twice in the shock 3-2 victory over Stevenage, broke the deadlock with a close-range finish after 16 minutes. He turned provider in the 59th minute, setting up Kevin Leadbetter, before heading home seven minutes later. Albion then reduced the arrears, when Dominic Krief scored an own goal and substitute Chris Hall scored, but they could not find a crucial third.

Woking 1-0 Southport
Woking snatched their second win of the season with a late Justin Richards header from Steven Reed's free-kick. The visitors looked more likely to take the lead, with Kevin Leadbetter's effort flying just over the bar. The half ended in unsavoury fashion, with Southport's Neil Robinson booked for the challenge on Karl Murray. The second half saw Leadbetter struggle in vain to break the deadlock, testing Steven Dickinson with one effort and blazing a second over the bar. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Woking: Jalal, Jackson, Nethercott, Oliver, MacDonald, Ferguson (El-Salahi 90), Murray, Smith (Reed 75), Evans, McAllister , Rawle (Richards 74). Subs Not Used: Aggrey, Davies. Goals: Richards 90. Southport: Dickinson, Lane, Davis, Fitzhenry (Kilbane 81), Fitzgerald, Baker, Krief, Pickford, Leadbetter (McGinn 74), Robinson (Fearns 45), Daly. Subs Not Used: Speare, Lynch. Booked: Robinson. Att: 1,477 Ref: S Creighton (Reading).

Southport fail in Ruffer loan bid
Southport manager Liam Watson has failed in a loan move for Morecambe defender Carl Ruffer. But Watson has been backed by chairman Charlie Clapham in his bid to strengthen his injury-hit squad. "I have been open about talking to Morecambe regarding Carl, but that immediate loan move was not possible," Watson told his club's website. "I have identified two other players. But clubs are not enthusiastic in allowing their best players to move."

Droylsden sign Southport's Fearns
Southport striker Terry Fearns has moved to Conference North outfit Droylsden for an undisclosed fee. Fearns, 27, scored 41 goals for Southport in the Conference North last season and marked his return with a goal in Droylsden's win over Worksop. Southport boss Liam Watson told his club's website: "He was my best signing, a dream to manage but we all have to move on." Fearns started five matches for Southport this season without scoring.

Kilbane poised to leave Southport
Southport central defender Farrell Kilbane is poised to make his loan move to Conference North side Stalybridge Celtic permanent. The 31-year-old started 12 Conference games for Port earlier this season, but has been on loan at Stalybridge since the end of November. Port boss Liam Watson has also allowed midfielder Dominic Krief to join Unibond League side Farsley Celtic. Watson plans to reshuffle his squad further in the January transfer window.

Southport boss sets points target
Southport boss Liam Watson has set his side a target of 43 points to ensure their survival in the Conference. The Sandgrounders moved off the bottom of the table by beating Canvey Island on Saturday and Watson believes their current form will keep them up. The Merseyside outfit are four points adrift of safety on 23 and Watson told Sir Stanley: "We need five or six wins. "We've done well away, but to beat Canvey Island at home is a big lift. I hope we can push on from here." Watson was also delighted with the impact of new loan signing Jimmy Aggrey following the defender's arrival from Woking. "Jimmy has made a big difference," said Watson after a run of three clean sheets in four games. "He's an organiser and a big presence in terms of his stature. "It also shows what a good pro he is as he could have sat at Woking and picked up his wages, but instead is travelling up and down the country to play for us."

Roberts set for Southport return
Southport manager Liam Watson is to bolster his side's defence with the return of Crewe defender Mark Roberts. The 22-year-old will start a second loan spell of the season at Haig Avenue next Monday after his current loan deal with Chester City expires. Roberts is no longer at Chester, having played just one game under previous boss Keith Curle, but can not move until the loan period runs out. Port defeated Accrington in the Lancashire Trophy 4-2 on Tuesday. Steve Daly continued his fine run with a hat-trick.

Forest Green 1-2 Southport
Liam Blakeman's second-half strike gave bottom-of-the-table Southport their third away win of the season. Forest Green took an early lead when Damon Searle's free-kick was headed home by Abdou Sall from close range. But Southport regrouped and responded with Steve Pickford going close before Steve Daly levelled. But Blakeman fired home from the edge of the penalty area with 17 minutes remaining to notch his first goal of the season and snatch all three points. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Forest Green: Clarke, Byron Anthony, Sall, Michael Taylor, Searle, Meechan, Gadsby, Brough (Jones 75), Rogers (Beesley 74), Abbey (Alsop 23), Madjo. Subs Not Used: Teixeira, Harrison. Booked: Michael Taylor, Alsop. Goals: Sall 3. Southport: Dickinson, Lane, Roberts, Brabin, Powell, Baker, Morley, Pickford, Blakeman, Robinson, Daly (Fitzhenry 87). Subs Not Used: Speare, McGinn, Booth, Leadbetter. Sent Off: Roberts (87). Booked: Pickford, Roberts, Blakeman. Goals: Daly 18, Blakeman 73. Att: 846 Ref: R Vaughan (Somerset)

Southport 1-2 Hereford
Hereford moved four points clear of Halifax in second place in the Conference after beating Southport. The Bulls took the lead with their first attempt, Tamika Mkandawire heading home a Nicky Nicolau corner. Two minutes before the break Andy Ferrell doubled the lead, nodding home Craig Stanley's cross from the right. Neil Robinson's penalty pulled one back after Mkandawire had been adjudged to have handled, but Kevin Leadbetter hit the post as the visitors held on. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southport: Dickinson, Lane, Brabin (Fitzgerald 45), Davis, Powell, Baker (Booth 18), Pickford, Morley (Leadbetter 45), Blakeman, Daly, Robinson. Subs Not Used: Speare, Fitzhenry. Booked: Robinson, Pickford. Goals: Robinson 60 pen. Hereford: Brown, Green, Mkandawire, James, Jeannin, King, Stanley, Ferrell, Nicolau (Pitman 78), Fleetwood, Williams (Carey-Bertram 61). Subs Not Used: Mawson, Gwynne, Trewick. Booked: Ferrell. Goals: Mkandawire 10, Ferrell 43. Att: 1,057. Ref: D Richardson (West Yorkshire).

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