Neil Robinson bagged another brace to inspire Southport to a dramatic victory against Burton Albion.

Robinson produced the breakthrough on eighteen minutes, before the Sandgrounders eased into a three-goal second-half lead.

But what should have been a dreary ending was made an exhilarating finale after a Dominic Krief own goal and Chris Hall’s rasping drive gifted the visitors an unlikely lifeline.

Although Southport were not made to pay a costly price on this occasion, unnecessarily sloppy goals when the result should be a formality, will inevitably cost them vital points if such errors continue.


Kevin Leadbetter (right) in posession

Haig Avenue-goers were treated to their third successive five-goal feast, which eventually produced their side’s fourth point of the Bank Holiday weekend – surpassing many expectations.

With seven points from a possible nine against established Conference opposition, Liam Watson’s youngsters have laid down promising foundations for the season ahead.

And Robinson, with four goals to his name already, has reproduced the kind of form that endeared him so closely to the Southport faithful in 2004. Robust, hungry, clinical and at times unstoppable, the former Macclesfield frontman will be an invaluable element of the Sandgrounders’ strategy if he can regularly produce displays of a similar calibre.

In a tentative opening of a half when openings were at a premium, Robinson opened the hosts’ account with the first opportunity of note.

Jerome Fitzgerald delivered from the left, before Baker combined with Daly, creating an opening for Robinson, who drilled home from close range.


Goal


Celebrations

Although Robinson and Daly had chances to extend the hosts’ advantage, Burton’s Aaron Webster came closest to adding to the scoreline, narrowly whistling wide prior to the interval.

Offensively lumbering in the first period, the Brewers resumed play brightly and were denied on fifty-five minutes by a spectacular acrobatic save from goalkeeper Steve Dickinson. Anderson’s hanging right-wing centre was met by a point-blank bullet header from player-boss Nigel Clough, only for Dickinson to prevail, diving instinctively to his left.


Neil Robinson (right) tussles for the ball


Earl Davis wins a header

Burton were unable to force the ball home from a goal-mouth scramble soon after and their opponents capitalised upon some ineffective finishing, with impressive counter-punching.

The Sandgrounders saw Leadbetter’s shot from inside the area trickle agonisingly across the face of goal, before Neil Robinson’s header from a Fitzgerald cross was rebuffed by Captain Darren Stride.

But the hosts doubled their lead on the hour, when Robinson switched play from the right, allowing Leadbetter to advance Stride. Veering goalwards, he unleashed a low curling drive which flashed across ‘keeper Dan Crane and tucked into the bottom right-hand corner.

Five minutes later, the covering Clough conceded a corner after some intricate play involving Baker and Lane down the right channel, allowing Southport to grab a third from the resulting set-piece.

Leadbetter’s right-wing delivery was met by a bullet header from Robinson, who rose well at the far post.


Goal


Celebrations

But those who thought a tame ending would pursue were wrongly mistaken.

Midfielder Dominic Krief has had a promising start to his Haig Avenue career and was again a dynamic component of the central operation. Covering the width of the park to track tackles and creating openings with some incisive passes, a goal would have been the perfect merit for Krief’s efforts.

But unfortunately, another impressive outing from the former Harrogate man was marred by an own goal scored fifteen minutes from time, which granted Burton an undeserved life-line and made for a tense climax.

A cross from the right by substitute Andy Todd, an ex-Southport target, rebounded off Krief and past the hapless Dickinson.

And it was another Brewers replacement, Chris Hall, who added a second, rifling in an angled shot from the left of the penalty area, with blistering pace.



Hall almost completed a remarkable comeback, but his last-minute header was scraped off the line by Lane, before Fitzgerald was on hand to deflect Todd’s low effort wide.

The hosts should have wrapped the game up in time added on, but Robinson fluffed the opportunity to grab a hat-trick, instead opting to square unsuccessfully to Fearns when bearing down on goal.

(Alan Jones)


Earl Davis (right) in aerial action


Burton player-manager Nigel Clough


Southport.gb.com Match Facts:

Southport: (4-4-2) 1. Steve Dickinson, 19. Chris Lane, 6. Earl Davis, 12. Farrell Kilbane, 3. Jerome Fitzgerald, 5. Carl Baker (21. Robbie Booth ‘90), 18. Dominic Krief, 2. Steve Pickford (14. Kevin Lynch ’80), 11. Kevin Leadbetter, 8. Neil Robinson, 11. Steve Daly (9. Terry Fearns ‘68).
Unused Substitutes: 15. Jamie Speare, 20. Matthew McGinn.

Referee: K. Evans

Attendance: 1,253

Southport.gb.com Southport Man of the Match: 18. Dominic Krief

Final Score: Southport 3, Burton Albion 2
Possession: Southport 50%, Burton Albion 50%
Shots on Target: Southport 9, Burton Albion 7
Shots off Target: Southport 5, Burton Albion 5
Corners: Southport 3, Burton Albion 9
Fouls Committed: Southport 17, Burton Albion 12
Bookings: Southport 1, Burton Albion 0
Sent-Off: Southport 0, Burton Albion 0


Southport FC's Billy Marshall (right) sporting a new suit, alongside on-pitch announcer Jon Jessop