Gainsborough Trinity 0 – 3 Southport
He has been among the leading marksmen in the Vanarama National League North since the season began and it was perhaps fitting that Jason Gilchrist moved to the top of the goalscoring charts with an emphatic demonstration of what he does best.

In firing home 21 goals for the campaign so far, Gilchrist has shown his worth on a regular basis for Southport, just as he had done with FC United of Manchester, but his exploits here gave the travelling supporters reason to be particularly pleased.

If the gloss had been taken off Gilchrist’s first hat-trick in a Southport shirt with a late collapse at Tamworth in December, his treble this time was the obvious highlight of an impressive performance from Kevin Davies’ team and a convincing victory over Gainsborough Trinity.

As well as showing a clinical touch and a composed head, Gilchrist also displayed an impeccable sense of timing, scoring three goals in the space of eight minutes either side of half-time to secure the Sandgrounders’ first away win since August 19.

Victory on the road has been a long time coming but this was another indication of the progress made by Southport in recent weeks.

Southport and Gainsborough were among seven teams separated by just three points at kick-off, so the win for Davies’ team was important in lifting them up the table at the start of what has the makings of a key run of games.

Until Gilchrist got the ball rolling in the 42nd minutes, there had been little between the teams, but by the end the margin of victory should have been more emphatic as Southport created numerous openings during a second half they dominated.

While Gilchrist took the applause, much of the credit belonged to Dion Charles who, on his first start after limping off during his debut against Leamington, had a hand in all three goals and was a regular nuisance to the Gainsborough defence.

Gilchrist got his first by nudging the ball home from close range at the far post after an initial effort from Charlies had been parried by goalkeeper Henrich Ravas and looped up into the path of the striker.

And Gilchrist claimed his second in added time, receiving a pass from Charles before breaking into the Gainsborough area from the left and sliding the ball past Ravas with a measured finish.

After a tight start, the Sandgrounders were the more persuasive team as the first half went on and Steve Howson should have opened the scoring earlier, only to blaze a shot over from in front of goal after a free-kick from Elliot Osborne.

Instead, it was left to Gilhrist to inflict the damage and, after his two goals before the interval, he completed his hat-trick five minutes after half-time, mopping up the loose ball after Charles had hit a post.

For Gilchrist, it was his 11th goal in as many starts since joining the Sandgrounders three months ago.

Charles would have merited a goal of his own and it was from his close-range header that goalkeeper Ravas produced a reflex save to prevent the visitors extending the scoreline further.

Jack Sampson also went close and, for a team who conceded goals regularly for a large part of the season, the fact that a clean sheet was rarely in doubt is testament to the improvements being made.

That progress has translated into four wins from six matches and, with the league’s most lethal goalscorer in their ranks, the Sandgrounders will be optimistic that there can be more days like this to come.



Gainsborough Trinity (4-4-2): Ravas, Richards, Jacklin, Beatson, Davie (Storey 46), C King, Clarke, L King, Bateson (Russell 68), Simmons, Worsfold (Wells 32).
Subs not used: Stainfied, Evans.

Southport (4-2-3-1): Worsnop, J Richards, Priestley, Howson, Kelly, Morgan, Lynch, Charles (Smith 84), Osborne (Dawson 75), Gilchrist (McLeod 68), Sampson.
Subs not used: Halstead, Sykes.

Attendance: 532

Referee: James Durkin

Report by Alan Jones

The Southport players celebrate with the travelling fans at full-time

“Kevin Davies’ Yellow Army!” #GAIvSPT #OnePort pic.twitter.com/4AEoSawkAx

— Southport FC (@southport_fc) 10 February 2018