Southport furious at refereeing decisions

Oct 13 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

FURIOUS Port manager Liam Watson vented his anger at referee Peter Davies as his side crashed out of the FA Cup at the third qualifying round stage.

Mid-table UniBond side Boston United staged a smash-and-grab performance at Haig Avenue in a game which turned on a hugely contentious penalty decision in the 56th minute.

Both sides were stunned when the Lymm official pointed to the spot after Adam Flynn seemingly nicked the ball cleanly from the feet of Ryan.

After protestations, Jon Rowan struck the ball cleanly into the bottom left just evading the sprawling hand of Tony McMillan to put The Pilgrims two-up.

“It was never a penalty in a million years,” said Watson of Davies in his post match conference.

“He just wanted to be involved, he just wanted to be centre of attention. He wasn’t even worth speaking to at the end.”

Until the penalty, Southport had rallied following Kieran Leabon’s stunning 15t minute strike, the pacey midfielder finding the top corner from the edge of the area.

Neil Robinson and Mark Duffy were both denied by superb saves by Margarson, who on both occasions, reacted with agility to parry away strong shots on goal.

Earl Davis then skewed a header from close range over the bar after finding himself unmarked in the first half as Southport upped the ante.

But the goal was never to come and after Boston’s second goal, Watson’s side grew frustrated by the Lincolnshire side’s defensive game play and increasing gamesmanship.

Port nearly clawed one back at the death, Ciaran Kilheeney’s header from Duffy’s cross inches wide before Daly was denied at point-black range by the impressive Margarson.

Jubilant celebrations followed for the sizeable away following and rightly so - Boston have had a miserable two seasons after falling out of the Football League two seasons ago.

Tommy Taylor’s side were denied admission to the Conference Premier due to their precarious finances and had to settle for a place in Conference North, from which they were booted out in May after failing to come out of administration.

SOUTHPORT (4-4-2): McMillan; Flynn, Davis (S Gray 73), Connolly, Lever; Duffy, Doolan, Moogan, McGinn (T Gray 54); Robinson (Daly 68), Kilheeney. Subs: Lee, Booth, Powell, Price.

BOSTON (4-3-3): Margarson; Matthews, Clarke, Bloomer, Parker; Melton (Wood 79), Talbot ( Millson 82), Rowan; Leabon, Ryan (Parker 90), Froggatt. Subs: Beeson, Beck, Griffiths, Butcher.

REFEREE: P DaviesATT: 792