On this Day: December 28th

Southport manager Alan Ball was quick to point out the dangers of expecting an “easy game” when his side, one point off fourth, visited bottom of the table Doncaster Rovers on this day in 1974.

With Tommy O’Neill about to start a suspension, Ball had otherwise a full contingent to select from. 

Ball’s plans however were thwarted by the weather. On a day where abandonments brought the number of games lost to the weather in the Fourth division to 23, the wind was so strong that Doncaster were forced to close part of the main stand as a safety precaution.

It turned out to be a good month for Yorkshire-man Paul Taylor who netted his seventh goal in five games…unfortunately he wasn’t to get on the scoresheet again until the end of April.

DONCASTER ROVERS 1 – 1 SOUTHPORT

Competition: League
Date: 28/12/1974
Attendance: 1356

Southport Line-Up:  Kevin Thomas, Alan Kershaw, Bobby Sibbald, Alex Russell, David Hughes, Tony Betts, Duncan Welbourne, Bobby Gough, Johnny Johnston, Paul Taylor, Alan Jones,  
Subs: Johnny Martin (Alex Russell), 
Goals: Paul Taylor,