STEWART’S SAVES DEFY MANSFIELD

Southport emerged from 20 years of anonymity to grab the headlines and a place in the third round FA Cup draw with an historic win. It was our first victory over a league side since relegation out of the football league in 1978 and the first time we had reached the third round since 1978. Southport rode their luck but defended well whilst Mansfield had no luck and failed to take their chances. Billy Stewart kept us in the game in the early stages with some outstanding saves. A goal for the Sandgrounders had looked unlikely but when Warren Hackett brought down Scott Guyett, David Gamble, who was the only survivor from the last Southport team to reach the second round six years ago, scored from the penalty spot. Whilst Mansfield continued to dominate Stewart stood firm with nothing getting past him. Futcher was outstanding and a calming influence on all around him. He hadn’t intended playing in the game but an early injury to Brian Butler forced the substitution. Brian Ross got the second half off to a great start when within 90 seconds of the restart he raced on to along clearance and slammed home a perfectly placed drive from 20 yards. Southport then played their best football of the game and should have added a third goal. It was Mansfield who pulled a goal back to cue an anxious last 18 minutes but after Mansfield squandered their umpteenth chance of the afternoon it was the Southport players who were running over to their fans to celebrate a memorable win. Steve Parkin the Mansfield manager described it as the worst experience of his two years as a manager whilst Futcher was “over the moon.”