Strong first half earns first league away win

Saturday 14th November 2020  |  The Pure Stadium  |  National League North

0-2

Final Score

Blakeman 3

Taylor 21

Match Report

Spennymoor won for the first time on the road in the league this season following a convincing first half showing against Souhport.

Moors made a dream start, taking the lead after just three minutes courtesy of Adam Blakeman’s first goal for the club.

After Jamie Spencer was caught by Russell Benjamin on the edge of the area, the full back’s free-kick took a wicked deflection and wrongfooted Southport goalkeeper Dan Handford.

Glen Taylor came close to doubling Spennymoor’s lead soon after, but his stinging drive flew past the wrong side of the post.

Following a cruel late defeat at AFC Fylde on Tuesday, Moors found themselves in a dominant position just past the twenty minute mark. 

Adam Anson, formerly of Chorley, almost scored a spectacular own goal but was fortunate to see the ball go behind for a corner instead following a challenge on Ben McKenna.

From the resulting corner, a short pass was played to Scott McLean, and when Nathan Buddle headed his deep cross back into the six yard box, Glen Taylor pounced to double Moors’ advantage.

It extended the striker’s superb goal scoring run against the Sandgrounders, with Taylor claiming a goal in five of his previous six games against Southport.

Southport, who came into the match on the back of a 3-2 defeat at home to York on Tuesday, only created one chance of note, with Marcus Carver seeing shot from a tight angle blocked.

Liam Watson, clearly unhappy with his side’s first half performance, made two alterations at the break and looked a more lively outfit after the restart.

Carver linked up with former Chorley teammate Matt Challoner before firing near post shot which Dale Eve was forced to palm behind for a corner.

However, Moors came within inches of scoring a third goal which would not have looked out of place in the higher echelons of the game.

Taylor found the onrushing Rob Ramshaw with an acrobatic ball over the top, and when the former clipped a ball across to McLean, his dinked effort struck the post and fell into the hands of Hanford.

Southport gave a better account of themselves past the hour mark but could only fashion half chances, with substitute Connor Woods going close after breaking through the Moors defensive line.

Spennymoor struck the woodwork for a second time in the half when Ramshaw flicked McKenna’s curling effort on to the bar, before Woods squandered Southport’s best chance of the afternoon when he dragged an effort wide of the post.

Despite a dominant performance, Eve’s first clean sheet as Moors’ number one was under threat when Blakeman fouled Niall Watson in the area, but Eve confidently stopped David Morgan’s spot kick to keep his side on course for victory.

The referee’s final whistle signalled three welcome points and a first away win of the campaign.

Line Ups

SouthportSpennymoor
1. Dan Hanford13. Dale Eve
2. Charlie Oliver3. Adam Blakeman
6. David Morgan (C)5. Nathan Buddle
3. Jack Doyle6. James Curtis (C)
9. Jordan Archer2. Tyler Forbes
11. Marcus Carver16. Jamie Spencer
12. Matthew Challoner8. Adriano Moke'54Kennedy
4. Russell Benjamin11. Ben McKenna'82Mulhern
5. Adam Anson9. Glen Taylor
18. Jack Bainbridge10. Rob Ramshaw
14. Mo Ali21.Scott McLean'75Thompson
SubsSubs
13. Tony McMillan4. Mark Anderson
15. Dean Winnard7. Stephen Thompson
17. Niall Watson19. Joe Tait
10. George Newell28. Jason Kennedy
7. Connor Woods20. Frank Mulhern

highlights

reaction

Man of the Match

Dale Eve

Eve was a dominant presence throughout the contest, claiming a barrage of crosses throughout the match. His penalty save from David Morgan sealed his first clean sheet of the campaign.

Up Next...

Spennymoor Town

vs

Blyth Spartans
BlythSpartans
Tuesday 17 November 2020
7.45pm
The Brewery Field
National League North

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