Match report. Hereford 0 Southport 1

Southport travelled to Edgar Street with new manager Jim Bentley in the dugout for the first time and returned with all three points.

You ride your luck at times and today was one of those days when a little bit of luck went our way and after 14 winless games it was lucky 15. Make no mistake though for all round effort and desire the lads deserved the win.

Hereford started brightly and had early chances but in honesty, Chris Renshaw in the Southport goal wasn’t tested and we grew into the game the half wore on without creating any meaningful efforts ourselves.

With the partisan Hereford support baying for every free kick and a card after every challenge the visitors held firm.

The only goal came in the 58th minute. Brilliant work down the left by Niall Watson who delivered a superb cross for Marcus Carver to nod home at the far post to stun the home crowd and send the 41 travelling Southport fans into raptures. It was a long 42 minutes (10 added minutes) after that but with Harry Flowers and Adam Anson in commanding form at the back there was no way through.

With the home side pushing players forward and Tyler Walton working hard up front the visitors nearly caught the home side on the break on three occasions but the final ball was just missing.

Hereford thought they had grabbed an equaliser in the 82nd minute but it was ruled out for offside to everyone’s relief and there was another scare when a Herford attacker went down in the area looking for a penalty but the excellent referee was not having any of it and waved away the appeals. Chris Renshaw did make a great reaction save in the 96th minute to thwart the home side again.

A brilliant afternoon on the road and something to build on as we go again on Tuesday with a home match against Scarborough Athletic.

Line Up: Renshaw, Doyle, Flowers, Anson, Watson, Morgan, Carver(Costello), Walton, Quansah, Hmami(C Heath), F Heath(Bainbridge).

Subs: C Heath, Sass, Bainbridge, Costello, McMillan.

Referee: Richard Ely

Half Time 0-0

Attendance: 2259

Media Man Of The Match:Close run thing between Adam and Harry at the back and plenty of others for the all round effort but Harry just shaves it. Adam said give it Harry as he was “a rock” We are happy to go with that!