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Bloods' Trophy trauma

Gary Owen
20/12/2006

Southport 1 Droylsden 0 - THE Bloods were dumped out of this year's FA Trophy in controversial style at Haig Avenue on Saturday.

This was not down to Carl Baker's injury-time strike for the Sandgrounders, but moreover to a very poor display from the man in the middle.

While most of the decisions seemingly went the way of the hosts, the official and his assistants failed to spot as blatant a handball as you are likely to see.

With the score 0-0 just after the break, Chris Lane clearly handled the ball to prevent it falling to Steve Jagielka in the box.

To be fair though, Southport enjoyed the lion's share of possession in the first half, but without really testing Paul Phillips, while the Bloods found it difficult playing against the stiff breeze.

The first chance, however, did fall to Droylsden, but Terry Fearns shot wide from Jimmy Kelly's pass before Phillips then saved well from Joe Fowler and Dino Maamria shot wide on the turn.

The best chance of the half fell to Steve Daly, but he was thwarted by the outstretched leg of home keeper Paul Harrison.

Fearns and Maamria were then both off target with efforts at either end before Jimmy Williams received the first of his two yellow cards.

Having missed Lane's handball, the referee then dismissed Williams on 50 minutes for a foul on James Olsen, but the Bloods were in the ascendancy despite their numerical disadvantage.

Steve Daly shot straight at Harrison when well placed and Daniel Kirkup cut out a Jagielka cross that would have otherwise been a tap-in for Fearns.

Droylsden hearts were in their mouths on 69 minutes when Phillips went wandering, but Fowler curled wide with the goal at his mercy.

Gareth Morris shot wide and had a free kick tipped over by Harrison, while Jody Banim shot wide just as the 90 minutes were up.

With a replay looking a possibility, Baker struck two minutes into injury time, sidestepping Garry Burke and Carl Ruffer before giving Phillips no chance.