Harrogate Town 2  – 0 Southport

Harrogate Town kept up the pressure on League leaders,Salford City,with a 2-0 victory over Southport at the CNG Stadium.
Town had to make one change because Jake Wright was still feeling the effects of his knock at York City,so Mark Beck replaced him in attack.
The Wetherby Roaders started on the front foot ,with Jack Emmett ending a penetrative,diagonal run,with a shot over the bar.
It took only four minutes for Town to breach the Sandgrounder’s defence, when George Thomson’s pass found Ryan Fallowfield and his low centre was turned past Mark Halstead, by Mark Beck from close range.
Southport gradually began to get into the game and David Morgan,who had a spell with Town in the Autumn,centered but Jason Gilchrist couldn’t make contact at the far post.
Next,Elliott Osborne, tried his luck from long range, but was way off target,however, it was Fallowfield who kept Town’s goal intact when he turned a Dion Charles shot round the upright after Belshaw could only palm Adam Dawson’s cross into the winger’s path.
The last action of the half saw Belshaw make a fine one handed, diving save to keep out Gilchrist’s back post header.
The visitors started the second period on the offensive with Osborne blazing over the bar,but just before the hour,they were caught on the break.
Josh Falkingham found Fallowfield in space on the right and he made progress, before crossing for Thomson to lash into the roof of the net.
Town kept up the pressure with Dom Knowles and Beck going close with headers,while Ben Parker forced Halstead to save at the near post after he had been played in by Joe Leesley.
With ten minutes left,Jordan Thewlis,who had replaced Knowles,latched on to Beck’s flicked header, but Halstead was quickly off his line to snuff out the danger.
The Sandgrounders fought to the end and Charles and Morgan fashioned a shooting chance for Osborne in the 84th minute,but Belshaw tipped his goalbound shot over the bar to seal Town’s victory and earn himself,the Man of the Match award.
Town,
Belshaw,Fallowfield,Parker,Falkingham,(c),Burrell,McCombe,Thomson,Emmett,Beck,Knowles (Thewlis 79),Leesley(Agnew 82).
Unused subs, Swain,Cracknell,Kennedy.       Man of the Match,Belshaw          Att.1386
Scorers,Beck 4,Thomson 58                 Bookings nil
Southport,
Halstead,Richards,Kelly(Whittle 85),Morgan,Howson,Marx.Osborne,Lynch(c),Gilchrist,Dawson(Hannah73),Charles.
Unused subs,Priestley,Smith,Worsnop.               Bookings nil
Referee D Underwood
By John Harrison.