Droylsden F.C.-The bloods on the net!

SOUTHPORT 1 - 0 DROYLSDEN

F. A. Trophy, 1st Round, Saturday 16th December 2006

Report by Gary Owen

The Bloods were dumped out of this years competition in controversial style at Haig Avenue on Saturday.

This was not down to Carl Bakers injury time strike for the Sandgrounders, which itself was a sweet goal, but moreover to a very poor display from the man in the middle, Mr. A Haines, who for most of the game may as well have worn a yellow shirt.

In addition to generally not seeming to realise that there were two teams on the pitch, as opposed to just the hosts, Mr. Haines (and his fellow officials) failed to spot as blatant a handball as you are ever likely to see.

This was just after the break, when Chris Lane clearly handled the ball to prevent it falling to Steve Jagielka in the box. At that stage, the game was evenly poised at 0-0, and the Bloods still had their full contingent of players.

To be fair, though, Southport enjoyed the lions share of possession in the first half, but without really testing Paul Phillips. The Bloods, on the other hand, found it difficult playing against the stiff breeze.

The first chance, however, did fall to Droylsden, but Terry Fearns shot wide from Jimmy Kellys pass. Phillips then saved well from Joe Fowler before Dino Maamria shot wide on the turn.

The best chance of the half fell to Steve Daly, but he was thwarted by the outstretched leg of home keeper Paul Harrison. Fearns and Maamria were then both off target with efforts at either end, and on 32 minutes Jimmy Williams received the first of his two yellows, this one for persistent fouling.

Sean Doherty curled an effort wide of the mark, which was the final opportunity to be created in the first half.

Straight after the re-start, Mr. Haines then dropped his huge clanger, and on 50 minutes, Williams saw red for a foul on James Olsen.

For the remainder of the game, it seemed like a re-run of the Stafford play-off final all over again, with the Bloods in the ascendancy despite their numerical disadvantage. Daly shot straight at Harrison when well placed on 57 minutes, and Daniel Kirkup cut out a Jagielka cross that would have otherwise been a tap in for Fearns.

Droylsden hearts were in their mouths on 69 minutes, though, when Phillips went wandering, but Fowler curled wide with the goal at his mercy.

Gareth Morris then shot wide from the edge of the box and Gray headed over for the hosts.

With ten minutes remaining, Harrison had to tip over a Morris free-kick, and Jody Banim shot wide just as the 90 minutes were up.

A replay was looking a distinct possibility, until Baker struck two minutes into injury time, side stepping Burke and Ruffer before shooting into the top corner giving Phillips no chance.

SOUTHPORT: Harrison, Lane, Lee, Kirkup, Olsen, Donnelly, Powell, Hoolickin, Doherty, Baker, Maamria.

SUBS: Bagnall (not used), Boyd (for Olsen, 55), Fowler (for Lee, 4), Tait (not used), Gray (for Fowler, 72).

DROYLSDEN: Phillips 8, Williams 7, Warner 7, Ruffer 7, Burke 8, Jagielka 7, Lynch 7, Fearns 7, Daly 6, Kelly 7.

SUBS: Banim 8 (for Fearns, 78), Tandy 7 (for Daly, 66), Howard (not used), Robinson (not used), Halford (not used).

REFEREE: Mr. A. Haines

ATTENDANCE: 652