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

SOUTHPORT 3 – 1 DROYLSDEN

Blue Square North – Tuesday 7 April 2009

Report by Gary Owen

The Bloods’ dismal run of results at Haig Avenue continued on Tuesday evening, and combined with Alfreton’s win over Stalybridge, means that Droylsden’s realistic chances of securing that fifth spot have all but disappeared.

Dave Pace’s men now lie nine points behind the Derbyshire side (with one game in hand), but with only five games left to play. Stalybridge’s defeat, along with that of Harrogate to AFC Telford United on the same night, mean that the final play-off spot is now Alfreton’s to lose.

The Sandgrounders signalled their intentions within the first minute, when Steve Daly’s shot was deflected narrowly over the bar off Carl Ruffer, and this was followed by a Matty McGinn free kick, which went straight at Craig Mawson.

Ciaran Kilheeney then headed into the Droylsden ‘keeper’s arms from a McGinn cross as the home side began well with the wind at their backs.

Droylsden’s first real attack on 20 minutes saw Sean Newton shooting wide from a corner kick, and a Jamie McGuire header did likewise moments later.

Southport came back, though, and Mawson did well to save a McGinn header from Kilheeney’s cross.

Jake Speight then saw two chances go off target, his first flew too high and his second went just wide of the upright after he had beaten two defenders.

At the other end, Mawson held on to Kilheeney’s volley at the second attempt with Winn waiting to pounce, but arguably the turning point of the game came just before the break.

Southport were awarded a corner kick, with the referee, Mr. Corkhill, saying that the ball had gone out of play off Carl Lamb’s head, when all – including Adam Flynn himself – could see it had touched the Southport defender’s head last. The Southport players had to re-group in the area, having mostly retreated for a goalkick, and Daly bundled home at the far post from the flag kick to give the hosts a contraversial lead.

Winn shot just wide in first half added time, and Mr. Corkhill brought the first period to a close only to be surrounded by Bloods players and management alike as he left the field.

Just as they had done at AFC Telford United, Droylsden conceded a second goal early in the second half, which effectively sealed the game for their opponents. Winn collected a loose ball and with the Bloods’ defence seemingly gone AWOL, he squared to give Daly an easy tap in.

However, on 61 minutes, Droylsden gave themselves a chance by pulling a goal back when Jody Banim opened his thrid account for the Bloods by cutting inside a defender to beat Tony McMillan with a left footed drive into the corner of the net.

Disaster struck just four minutes later, though, when Steve Beck lost possession deep in his own half enabling Kevin Lee to make strides towards the Droylsden goal before unleashing an unstoppable effort into the top corner from the edge of the box.

The Bloods never gave up, though, and a quick Banim free kick almost caught McMillan unaware, before a Speight shot had the sting taken out of it allowing McMillan to save.

Mawson held onto a late shot from Kilheeney, as Southport all but sealed their play-off spot.

TEAMS:

Droylsden

Mawson, Brownhill, Newton, Byron, Ruffer, Beck (Pickford, 76‘), Brown (Patterson, 57’), McGuire, Lamb (Fitzpatrick, 57’), Speight, Banim.

Unused Subs: Sorvel, Cryan.

Southport

McMillan, Lee, McGinn (Mitchley, 71’), Flynn, Davis, Gray, Winn (Moore, 80’), Moogan, Daly (Booth, 79’), Kilheeney, Power.

Unused Subs.: Lever, Atkins.

Referee: Mr. John Corkhill (Egremont, Cumbria)

ATTENDANCE: 619