On This Day: March 8th

The 2002/03 season ranks as one of the most up and down season’s on record. From the highs of the top 3 and an FA Cup giant killing over Notts County in November, to an almighty slide down the table, dropping into the bottom 4 on the last day of the season – it was to be a defining season in the history of the club.

After the Notts County game, Southport weren’t to taste victory in the League until this day in March when they travelled to a rather waterlogged “Shay”.

HALIFAX TOWN 3 – 4 SOUTHPORT

Competition: League / Conference
Date: 08/03/2003
Attendance: 1544

Southport Line-Up: Steve Dickinson, Earl Davis, Barry Jones, Dean Howell, Chris Lane, Neil Moore, Liam McGuire, Lee Ashcroft, Peter Thomson, Steve Jones, Lee Mulvaney,  
Subs: Kevin Welsby (GK), Paul Wheatcroft, Andy Scott (Neil Moore), Robert Pell (Peter Thomson), Martin Clark (Lee Mulvaney), 
Goals: Lee Mulvaney, Lee Mulvaney, Lee Mulvaney, Robert Pell

The win gave some home that the slide could be halted, unfortunately the relief was temporary as four successive defeats followed.

A product of the club’s youth and reserve side, Lee Mulvaney stole the headlines on the day as the young striker netted his first hat-trick on his first League start.

Ex Sandgrounder Simon Parke threatened to spoil the party when he started the Halifax come-back and when Halifax levelled with ten minutes to spare everyone feared the worst. Robert “Bobby” Pell rescued the points in the dying minutes.