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Updated 08.11.01 21:24

League Cup Second Round

Southport 2 v 1 Greyhound Gunners

Team From: (1)Lloyd,(2)Eaves, (3)Openshaw, (4)Fairbrother, (5)Colley, (6)Bradbury, (7)Else, (8)Whalley (c), (9)Cloney, (10)Winstanley, (11)Hayes, (12)Blakeley, (14)Woolley

The Gunners travelled to Southport for the second time this season, for their League Cup second round tie. Unlike their previous visit to the coastal town, the Gunners had a full team and even the luxury of two substitutes (although one was on route as the game got underway).

The Gunners were without their usual right full back Holbrook, so Openshaw dropped back from midfield. Hayes returned to the starting line up from the bench while Colley returned to central defence. Woolley on route from Anfield joined Blakeley on the bench.

Southport kicked off, with the very strong coastal wind blowing from their right to left. Based on the trees in the immediate area, which slopped permanently at forty-five degrees, the strength and direction of the wind must be constant. Giving the home side a distinct advantage.

The Gunners were the first team to push forward and involve their opponent's keeper, although Pendleton confidently dealt with the attack.

Eaves settled immediately at the back for the Gunners despite the conditions, confidently playing the ball forward, while under pressure, to play in Else. The Gunners striker, pushing forward, managed to get a low shot off at the near post. Pendleton only managed to control at the second attempt, with Winstanley, sniffing out a mistake, closing in.

Colley, looking much more at home in her more accustomed central defensive position, was called into to action early on. With the support of Openshaw, the pair conceded two quick corners, which they took in turns to knock behind. Before Colley blocked a near post effort allowing Openshaw to complete the clearance.

The Gunners under pressure for a spell took the game to the home side on eight minutes. Openshaw played the ball down her line to Hayes, who combined swiftly with Else to break clear. The pair swapped passes again and looked dangerous going forward until the Southport defence swarmed over, conceding a right hand corner.

The Gunners reacting to the conditions took up mainly near post positions for the corner but found themselves out of place as the corner came across. A Southport body managed to half clear, catching out the poaching Gunners midfield, allowing the home side to launch a counter attack. Fortunately for the visitors, Lloyd was on her guard to sweep up the danger.

The Gunners continued to push their hosts back, as Colley forged through the packed midfield. Before laying off a perfect pass, into the feet of Hayes, who was well challenged by Hughes, as she threatened to break clear.

After thirteen minutes, Garside, played onside by a misjudged defensive header, broke clear in the area as the defence stepped out. With Lloyd coming from goal and Winstanley tracking back from midfield Garside rushed her effort firing five yards wide.

Southport had another corner shortly after, wind assisted, from their right side. Noting the possible danger, the Gunners dragged everyone back and were repaid as Winstanley and Eaves combined, to clear as the ball bobbled in the six-yard box.

Overall the Gunners were all playing well, with everyone seeing plenty of the ball albeit their right side seeing more than most as the wind got hold of the ball.

Bradbury put her mark on the game near the quarter mark, as her shear determination gained the Gunners forty yards. Taking the ball up inside her own area she turned a potentially dangerous Southport attack into a Gunners forward push. With Whalley manoeuvring all over the pitch and Winstanley looking solid, the central midfield battle looked very even with their Southport counterparts also up for it.

After twenty-three minutes, Openshaw and Colley doubled up yet again, on the very quick Garside down the left, as she threatened to break clear, conceding another corner. The defensive pair, look like building formidable partnership on the Gunners right side of defence. From the corner, Colley guarding against the near post flick on blocked an initial shot then was on hand to clear off a forward for a goal kick.

The first direct attempt on goal by either side finally arrived after twenty-five minutes. A break down the Southport right was played back towards the edge of the area, catching the Gunners defence flat footed. With just Lloyd to beat, a Southport forward kept her head and fired a solid shot towards goal. However, Lloyd bravely threw herself at full stretch, parrying the shot. With Lloyd on the floor the ball fell for Hughes who fired unforgivably, high over the bar with Colley and Fairbrother closing in.

As the game reached the half hour point the Gunners defence were again called into action following several Southport breaks from central midfield. The Home side, just nicking the midfield battle, managed to get a couple of balls through to the feet of Hughes and Garside. However, Fairbrother and Colley were both up to the task producing solid challenges to expel the attacks.

The Gunners still pushing forward themselves without any real final product continued to chip away. Another challenge by Colley deep inside her own half conceded a throw. Hayes, looking to get more involved, robbed possession and made her way forward. Looking for help, Hayes combined with Else three times in an electric breakaway before winning a throw near the dead ball line. The Gunners failed to take advantage from the throw the home side breaking themselves.

Garside broke clear in the thirty-sixth minute, for once getting past the attentions of the Gunners defence. With Lloyd rushing from goal, her tame effort failed to even find touch is it flew wide allowing Eaves to clear up.

The Gunners changed their formation six minutes from the break swapping Hayes with Else, allowing the latter to have a go at the Southport left back.

From the Gunners first attack after the change they took the lead. Else from wide on the right, cut back on her left foot on the corner of the penalty area. Without hesitation she swung her left foot at the ball, catching it perfectly, giving Pendleton no chance as it floated high over her, in to the net.

As they say in football, a team is never more dangerous than when they have just conceded. Southport proved it equalising just two minutes later. A wind effective the bounce from a high Southport clearance, allowed Garside to get the wrong side of the Gunners defence. Eaves tracked Garside, as she broke clear while Lloyd came off her line. But neither player was able to get in a challenge as Garside lofted the ball from eighteen yards over the advancing keeper in to the empty net.

Half Time 1-1

The Gunners kept it the same at the beginning of the second period, hoping Else could produce more of the same with the wind assisting her.

Bradbury was pulled up after forty-nine minutes for a handball offence near the edge of the Gunners area. Rather harshly as at best it was the shoulder rather than the upper arm. However, Southport failed to take advantage after a rather poor free kick.

Lloyd rushed from goal after fifty-two minutes to clear for a throw as danger looked imminent.

The Gunners were unlucky ten minutes in to the second period as Cloney bravely battled clear from a delightful Fairbrother free kick. As the youngster broke in to the box, she opted to hit an early left footed shot. But she was unable to get her foot around the ball, toe poking the ball wide left of goal.

The Gunners made a change on sixty-five minutes replacing Bradbury with Woolley in a like for like substitution.

The Gunners almost took the lead after sixty-eight minutes following the move of the match. A Cloney throw thirty yards from the Southport goal was half cleared as far as Eaves on halfway. The Gunners left back floated in a high cross that Hayes headed down to Else just inside the 'd'. Reacting instinctively, Else returned the ball to Hayes, who swivelled twenty-yards out and hit a stinking shot that flew inches the wrong side of the left hand upright.

Southport pushed forward from the goal kick and Garside had Fairbrother in trouble as she forced her way forward. Lloyd again had to come off her line and save as Garside shot but with Meadows on hand to pick up the loose ball Lloyd had to react instantly to save again. Producing a double save of Premiership quality!

On seventy-one minutes Cloney producing throws of quality in the battering wind forced another into the box, which Whalley headed on to Hayes who in turn laid off to Else. Her shot however was on target but didn't have the pace to trouble Pendleton on her line.

With the game nearing the final ten minutes and the cup-tie looking like going into extra time, Southport took the lead for the first time. A break down the right, found recently introduced substitute Dickinson in centre field. With Lloyd coming from goal, Dickinson had the coolness of thought to knock the ball round the keeper, into the unguarded net to make it 2-1.

Dickinson almost put the result beyond doubt minutes later, as she her an early shot from twenty-five yards that dipped just over.

The Gunners however didn't role over and die. They produced some heart stopping football in the final five minutes that could have seen them equalise and even nick the game.

Eaves produced several corners that had the home defence in all sorts of trouble. Else producing a flick on for one but nobody following up and Hayes having a well hit shot blocked by the legs of a defender.

Else took up the mantle of corner kicker as the Gunners switched to the right for another couple of corners. Southport happy to knock the first behind and thankful that the second which fell for Whalley ten yards out was deflected behind for yet another.

Eaves' final corner found Hayes on the edge of the box but despite taking two touches to make space for her shot Pendleton was able to save on her line with Colley in close attendance.