Play was suspended for 45 minutes at Haig Avenue as the floodlights went out five minutes after the game had started.

Ref halts the game.



Electrician Dave Hignett and Barry Headley sort out the lighting problem.



Electricians were called to the ground before play finally resumed at 8.35pm, just as the first half was scheduled to finish! And when Southport went 2 down within 40 minutes, no-one could have blamed the ‘Port players for wishing the lights would have remained off. However, all through the night the Sandgrounders played some quality football, and in the end a spirited and gutsy performance resulted in Southport wondering how all three points escaped them.

Altrincham fans.



The first real chance of the evening came in the opening 2 minutes, when Manchester United masseur Rob Thornley saw his effort from the edge of the box curl narrowly wide of Steve Dickinson’s left had post following an error from on loan signing Tony Hallam. Hallam made a sound competitive debut in a ‘Port shirt, on a three month loan from Morecambe, having previously played in 2 pre-season friendlies earlier this season.

Pictured is new signing Tony Hallam



Once play had resumed following the electrical problems, Thornley had his second chance of the game and converted it to put the visitors ahead. Impressive young mid-fielder Ian Craney played a piercing through ball to the former Doncaster man Thornley who took the ball beyond Hallam to slot home past the advancing Dickinson. The ‘Port, shocked by conceding so early failed to find their passing game although Lee Ashcroft, after working himself into a good shooting position fired over the bar. Ashcroft shot wide minutes later with a snap-shot volley following a long ball up field resulted in a goal-kick. Chances were few and far between for the Sandgrounders, as they failed to produce a telling final ball into the box.

And within seconds of another Southport move, the visitors found themselves 2 goals to the good with only their third chance of the game. Again, the skilful Craney and Thornley combined as they made the most of some hesitant Southport defending. Thornley received the ball 20-yards from goal and as the ‘Port defenders backed-off, he unleashed an unstoppable thunderbolt into the top left hand corner of Dickinson’s net.

Southport kept plugging away and Mark Beesley was presented with a good shooting opportunity following some neat play between Atkinson and Wright however, the on-loan Chester man fired straight at ‘keeper Williams. On the stroke of half-time, the Sandgrounders did get what they deserved, when, following a Graeme Atkinson corner, Tony Hallam rose above a whole crowd of players to thunder a rocket header into the back of the net. The Morecambe man had been brought in because of his aerial presence and power, and as long as he keeps the goals out of the other end, a huge advantage from set-plays will be very welcome.

Pictured below is on loan Graeme Atkinson.



The home side produced a spirited 2nd half comeback, producing some neat interplay in the process. Peter Wright, who was at the heart of many Southport attacks provided a superb out swinging cross on 55 minutes, however Mark Beesley failed to direct his header towards goal. As the ‘Port pushed forward in search of the illusive equaliser, they were very fortunate not to be punished after they were caught on the break a number of times. First, Southport were lucky when Ian Craney shot wide from close distance and Thornley also had a chance to undo the Sandgrounder’s hard work.

On 60 minutes, Southport broke quickly and a superb through ball fro Ashcroft landed kindly for Mulvaney, who, already having beaten the last line of defence coolly rounded ‘keeper Williams to place into an empty net. This was no less than Southport deserved as their hard work and graft paid dividends with a well worked equaliser. Altrincham, now on the back-foot had to withstand a lot of Southport pressure and Steve Pickford shot wide from 20-yards as time ticked away.

Peter Wright, a player who shone throughout the night saw his shot fired at the visiting ‘keeper following some great work to get himself inside the box and was a constant threat throughout the night with blistering pace and close skills. The ‘Port were again caught on the counter and were extremely fortunate to see Peter Band’s shot from three yards blaze over the cross-bar when it was probably easier to convert the chance. Sub Peter Thomson had Southport’s last desperate chance to grab a victory, as Graeme Atkinson’s free-kick on the final whistle was blocked.

Despite Altrincham starting the day in 21st place, and being a side all Southport fans would have expected to beat, the reaction at the final whistle was telling. Instead of geers and moans, the ‘Port players left the field to a round of applause, a sign of their commitment and effort shown in a productive second half.

Before the match, Mr. Jeff Ingram was presented with a £500 cheque by Southport FC. His winnings of the club’s lottery ‘The Saturday Yankee.’ How the football team could do with a bit of Mr. Ingram’s luck at the moment.

Pictured is Mr & Mrs Ingram.



Pictured below is Sandgrounder manager Mike Walsh.




Southport: Steve Dickinson, James Williams, Paul Byrne, Neil Whitworth, Tony Hallam, Steve Pickford, Peter Wright, Graeme Atkinson, Lee Ashcroft, Mark Beesley (Peter Thomson), Lee Mulvaney.
Unused Substitutes: Paul Haddow, Andy Whittaker.

Attendance: 702

it was dark and cold, I think I saw some bats flying about, but they might have been pigeons, hard to say. We deserved a draw.