Fans celebrate as Southport FC earn point against Alfreton Town with stoppage time equaliser

Match Report By Billy Mulley

Jordan Archer equalised in the third minute of stoppage time to earn Southport a draw against an Alfreton Town side, who were very well-organised up until that point.

Despite a relatively dominant start from the Sandgrounders, the visitors opened the scoring in the 31st minute, thanks to Bobby Johnson.

However, Jordan Archer scored his fourth goal of the season to level the game in the dying stages, tapping home from six yards out.

Southport once again started on the front foot with Connor Woods and Jack Doyle particularly threatening from wide areas.

Despite the early pressure, it was the visitors who created the first opportunity of the game, when Nicholas Walker broke the offside trap, only to see his effort saved by the on-rushing Dan Hanford.

Port reacted well and immediately created a chance of their own, but George Newell’s deflected effort from inside the box was comfortably caught by George Willis in the Alfreton goal.

After 27 minutes, the lively Morgan picked out George Newell with a delicate ball from the wide left, but the number 10’s powerful effort fell wide.

Just four minutes later, Alfreton opened the scoring after Southport were unable to clear a long throw from the right-hand side of the pitch. The half-cleared attempt fell to Bobby Johnson at the edge of the box, who found the back of the net with a composed finish to Hanford’s right.

Southport had their best opportunity of the first half, after Woods and Morgan combined brilliantly on the right flank, but Marcus Carver was unable to get a toe to the latter’s ball across the box.

Southport continued their dominance at the end of the first half into the second, and Woods was unlucky to see his shot from outside of the area sail narrowly past the post.

A minute later, Morgan managed to keep possession inside the area and tee up Matty Challoner, but his effort sailed miles over the bar.

The visitors then had a chance to make it two on the hour mark, with Adam Lund firing wide following a slick counter-attacking move.

But, the hosts continued to pile on the pressure as the half wore on with Woods persistently causing problem from both wings and was unlucky to see his shot flash wide in the 77th minute.

Jordan Archer was next to go close for the Sandgrounders, when Newell’s deflected effort found its way to the Port number nine. But Willis stood strong and palmed the shot away to his right.

Archer then scored the goal that Port’s pressure deserved in the third minute of stoppage time, poking home from Woods’ low cross.

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