On This Day: January 28th

After three successive defeats Lem Newcomb knew something had to change on this day in 1961.

Under Newcomb, Southport made their best start in 29 years, winning their first two games, and soon established a reputation for consistently good football. Since 1961 dawned however the slick attacking moves of the early part of the season had disappeared.
At Stockport in the FA third round on 7th, Reg Blore had given Southport an early lead, but County retaliated to win 3-1 to the dismay of the 1,800 strong Southport contingent. Inconsistent form had crept in and the side had started to throw away far too many home points in the League, with the result that they had slipped into the bottom half of the table.

Knowing they were about to face 3 away games in February, it was important to arrest the slide when Workington came to visit.

Newcomb switched the stuttering attack and it paid off with the Port taking an early 2 goal lead. By half time the lead had been extended to a third and Southport sat back for the second half. Whilst workington stepped up their game after the break their lack of a finish led to a scrappy and drab second half.

ForBryan Griffiths, is was to be a first League goal for the club, even if it did come at the expense of a blunder made by the Workington goalkeeper, Wright.

SOUTHPORT 3 – 0 WORKINGTON

Stadium: Haig Avenue
Competition: League
Date: 28/01/1961
Attendance: 2770

Southport Line-Up: Bert Harris, Roger Darvell, Johnny Clayton, Bill Rutherford, Jimmy Blain, Reg Blore, Bryan Griffiths, George O’Brien, Jack Hannaway, Eric Jones, Fred Leeder,  
Goals: Bryan Griffiths, Johnny Clayton, George O’Brien,