Jack Sampson and Dion Charles scored twice as Southport registered their first win of the Vanarama National League North season with a win that was strong, decisive and provided the ideal response to what had been a difficult start.

At the fifth attempt, the Sandgrounders’ season is up and running, combining attacking verve with an all-round resilience to put Nuneaton Borough to the sword and collect their first points of the campaign.

As Charles added the gloss to this comprehensive win with a stylish goal two minutes from time, the heavy loss at Chorley four days earlier felt like a distant memory.

Manager Liam Watson had called for a significant reaction after a difficult evening at Victory Park consigned Southport to a fourth straight defeat and his players responded in style.

Sampson’s double was reward for another tireless performance as the focal point of the Southport attack, while Charles was involved in every goal, highlighting his individual quality on the two occasions he found the target.

Watson described this performance as streetwise and his changes in shape and personnel paid dividends, Charles returning to the team as one of five different names on the team-sheet and he provided the perfect foil for Sampson.

Just as the concession of an early goal set the tone for what followed on Tuesday, so the Sandgrounders’ opener after three minutes here – giving the visitors a lead for the first time in a game this season – laid the platform for them to kick on.

Sampson got it, turning a shot in at the near post after Devarn Green had set Charles free down the left before he delivered a good cross.

Charles was on the scoresheet himself towards the end of the half with a goal all of his own making, dispossessing defender James Hurst before charging from a wide position into the area. As he looked to round goalkeeper Louis Gray, the chance appeared to have gone, but the ball came back to Charles and he rolled it over the goal-line.

In the intervening period, there were times when the visitors had to show their resolve. James Wesolowski turned the ball wide after a corner from Courtney Richards had reached the centre of the area, while the lively Enoch Andoh went close with a snap-shot.

Yet Southport added a third shortly before the break, Green and Charles combining again, allowing Sampson to expertly finish a cross from the latter.

The Sandgrounders controlled the play after the interval, the only blemishes being a red card on 69 minutes for David Morgan, whose foul on Mike Tweed earned him a second yellow card, while substitute Dior Angus pulled a goal back by slamming the ball home from inside the area after the visitors were caught in possession.

By that stage, the outcome had already been decided and Charles added the finishing touch in impudent fashion, lifting the ball delicately over goalkeeper Gray after breaking into the area from the right.



Southport: Hanford, Richards, Langley, Astles, Winnard, Lowe (Phenix 89), Morgan, Parry (Osborne 55), Green (Lynch 71), Sampson, Charles.
Subs not used: Gilchrist, Mueller.
Goals: Sampson 3, 45, Charles 40, 88

Nuneaton Borough: Gray, Hurst, Burns, Carter, Obeng, Richards (Angus 55), Wesolowski (Calveley 35), Freestone, Andoh, Panayiotou, Mitchell (Tweed 64).
Subs not used: Etheridge, Wharton.
Goal: Angus 82

Attendance: 459

Referee: Sam Barrott

Report by Alan Jones