Morpeth Town 3 Southport FC 0
A very disappointing afternoon in Morpeth sees Southport FC bow out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle for the second season running with a 3-0 defeat.
No excuses Southport were second best all over the park against a team who played the pitch well and with a vast array of experience managed the game to great effect.
The loss of Adam Anson after just 75 seconds to injury was a big blow to the visitors and with Jack Doyle out as well the back line which had been so strong last week was looking brittle.
Once the first goal went in it was always going to be backs to the wall and that came in the 15th minute when poor defending from a free kick allowewd Hodgson the freedom of the area to head home.
Southport’s best chance came in the 26th minute when Niall Watson was clean through but could only shoot straight at the ‘keeper and the follow up by Mikey O’Neill was also well saved by the home stopper.
Two minutes later it was 2-0 and the game was effectively over.
We never seemed to get going all afternoon and it was chalk and cheese from just 7 days earlier and the 4-1 win at King’s Lynn.
The third goal came in the 60th minute after David Morgan handled in the area and Hodgson slotted home the penalty, Chris Renshaw did get a hand to it but the shot had enough power to beat him.
We did have a couple of chances to reduce the deficit late on but Morpeth easily saw the game out for a comfortable win and deservedly progress into the next round.
A disappointed Jim Bentley gave his thoughts after the game and was understandably confused as the difference a week can make.
Line Up: Renshaw, Quansah, Sass, Flowers, Anson (Evans 2), F Heath (Mariette 60) Watson, Morgan, O’Neill(Walton 60) Carver & Holmes
Attendance 272 with a counted 40 (from what I could see) Southport fans.
Media Man Of The Match David Morgan who tried to keep things moving on a difficult afternoon.
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