A late brace from Glen Taylor saw Moors come back from 2-0 down to rescue a point at Haig Avenue against Southport.

The hosts opened the scoring through Malakai McKenzie’s well worked finish, before doubling the lead just shy of the break, as Adam Moseley capitalised on an error at the back.

Moors pulled one back with 16 minutes to go as Glen Taylor powered home a ridiculous effort that hit just below the stanchion of the goalmouth. The number 9 then stepped up and slotted away a late penalty deep into injury time to level the scores.

Jason Ainsley’s side started the game well, with Danny Johnson finding Taylor on the edge of the penalty area. The number 9 struck an effort first time, which flew narrowly wide of the left post.

Jack Young saw a strike deflected wide for a corner soon after, before Matty Dolan flashed a ball across the box for Taylor, who fired over.

‘Keeper, Matt Urwin was called into action with 10 minutes on the clock, as he had to tip a dangerous in-swinging cross around the post for a corner.

Urwin was there again seven minutes later, this time to deny Teddy Lavelle’s low effort from the edge of the area.

Despite a good start from Moors, it was Southport that took the lead 19 minutes in. A quick counter from the hosts saw Malakai McKenzie played through on goal where he avoided a late challenge from Jack Jenkins. The number 11 rounded Urwin in the Spennymoor goal and found the net with a low finish.

Moors saw chances come and go later in the 1st half, as Taylor’s effort from distance was well blocked by a Southport defender, before Danny Johnson had a low effort from a tight angle claimed by Douglass Lukjanciks.

The hosts went close to a second with 3 minutes of the first half remaining, as Jordan Slew’s cross from the left found Rhys Healey in the area. The number 29 struck a half volley on goal, which was brilliantly stopped by Urwin.

Mark Duffy’s men did go on to find a second goal right on the stroke of half time, thanks to a fortunate bounce inside the area. Moors looked to clear the ball, but in doing so saw the ball bounce back off a Moors man and into the path of Moseley, who acted fast to round Urwin and find the net.

It could’ve been three immediately after the restart as Slew rose highest to a header on the edge of the area, before taking a touch and controlling the ball around Urwin, but somehow not being able to find the net.

Slew had another chance just minutes later, this time though, he was denied by the out-stretched leg of the Moors shotstopper.

Moors had a real chance to half the deficit with 56 minutes on the clock as Taylor slipped Johnson in behind the Southport defence. Johnson carried the ball into the area, but saw his strike fly straight at Lukjanciks.

Urwin was on hand to deny another Southport chance when he did well to palm Healey’s powerful effort away from danger, before Dan Jones slid in to clear a dangerous looking ball into the area.

Moors saw two great chances go begging within 30 seconds of each other soon after, as Taylor rattled the crossbar with a thunderous effort. The ball bounced back off the crossbar into the path of Rob Ramshaw, who saw his follow-up strike tipped wide by Southport’s shotstopper.

Taylor pulled a goal back for Jason Ainsley’s side with 16 minutes left to play, as he got on the end of a good through ball from Ramshaw, before smashing an effort into he nett off the post to set up an exciting end at Haig Avenue.

Both sides had chances late on, but neither Danny Lloyd, nor Matty Dolan could find the net with their efforts for wither side.

Late drama came for Moors as Jason Ainsley’s side were awarded a penalty for an alleged handball inside the area deep into stoppage time. After some pushing and shoving between both sets of players inside the area. Taylor stepped up and calmly slotted the ball home into he bottom left corner.

A dramatic afternoon at Haig Avenue as Moors make it three games undefeated in all competitions.

Full time: Southport 2 Moors 2

Moors: Urwin, Salkeld, Pollock, Dolan, Jones, Mondal (Dawson 21), Jenkins, Young, Ramshaw, Johnson, Taylor

Subs not used: James, Miller, Murray

Booked: Salkeld 12

Referee: Lewis Dawson

Attendance: 1638 (133 Away)

Written by Noah Betts