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Recap: Southport 1-1 Harriers

The key action as Harriers and Southport play out a draw at The Pure Stadium

By Matty Paddock - 28/08/2021

Posted 4 years ago

Action from Southport 1-1 Harriers in August 2021. Image: (c) KHFC

HARRIERS kicked off the Bank Holiday weekend with a hard-fought point from a 1-1 draw at Southport.

Ashley Hemmings had given an early first half lead – continuing his fine scoring run at the start of this season with another effort from the penalty spot.

But a topsy-turvy game was never truly settled and, while Harriers bossed much of the first half, Southport came back fighting and secured the draw thanks to their own effort from 12 yards in the second half.

The Harriers opener came on just seven minutes. The visitors had been pressing early and earned the spot kick thanks to a handball in the area – Hemmings confidently dispatching the resultant kick to the delight of more than 100 travelling fans.

Sam Austin then forced Cam Mason into a low save before Southport hit back with a brace of efforts – Marcus Carver forcing Luke Simpson into a smart stop before Geraldo Bajrami cleared a further effort superbly off the goal line.

In truth , all the clear-cut chances came early in this one – on 23 minutes there was another big opening for Harriers as they broke again, Austin’s cross met by the head of Joe Foulkes who hit over, only a few inches shy of a first senior goal.

The teams had a big chance each either side of the break – while Southport should have levelled through Hmami just before the interval only for him to hit wide, Harriers were agonisingly close to a second just after things restarted, Caleb Richards hitting the bar as he tried to fire home a Foulkes cross.

While Keziah Martin then saw a shot saved near the hour, it was Southport who then moved into the ascendancy, a relentless stream of long throw-ins ensuring Harriers had their share of work to do.

One search delivery went on to earn them a penalty, 71 minutes on the clock when the referee ruled Keith Lowe had handled; Carver duly stepping up to hit an unstoppable effort past Simpson.

As the hosts searched for a winner, Woods struck wide and Doyle looped a header over. Harriers best sight of a second of their own came through a late Austin effort that Mason gathered up comfortably enough.

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