A rampant second half performance and some spectacular goals saw Moors clinch all three points in Southport on Tuesday night.
A clinical effort from Glenn Taylor opened the scoring with the only goal of the first half, before the hosts hit back through a Dior Angus penalty on 71 minutes.
However, Moors found their second of the evening as Matty Dolan fired home a freekick from 25 yards before Junior Mondal leathered a shot into the top corner just a minute later.
Aidan Rutledge rounded off the goals with a smart finish to put the game to rest and give Moors some reward at the end of a tough week of National League North travelling.
Southport looked to come forward in lively fashion from the off, with the home side holding most of the possession in the opening few minutes. Moors had to be on the ball as a cross floated over everyone to Sam Minihan at the back post, but his low ball back across seemed to evade everyone, much to Moors’ relief
However, the first real chance of the game fell to Moors just a few minutes later. Corey McKeown picked up the ball at the back post, firing a low shot towards Chris Renshaw’s near post. The goalkeeper got down well do save with his feet and tip the ball wide for a corner.
Graeme Lee’s men continued to push forward, carving out a few half chances soon after. Callum Ross saw his shot from close range claimed by Renshaw before Rob Ramshaw’s drilled effort from the edge of the penalty area was deflected wide.
Dan Rowe came close on the 24th minute as Moors really began to dominate the first half. A deflect Mondal shot looped towards the defender at the far post, who headed over Renshaw and onto the top of the bar.
McKeown looked to open the scoring as he jinked inside of his man, only for his shot to blaze high 0ver the crossbar. The Moors winger continued to attack down the left-hand side, playing a ball across to Taylor, who went for goal inside the box. His shot, however, was diverted wide by a defensive intervention.
All the early pressure finally paid off for Moors eight minutes from half time, as captain Taylor got Moors’ first of the evening. Some great work from Mondal saw the winger drive down the right, causing serious problems for the hosts. Mondal played the ball inside to Ramshaw, who drove toward the by-line before playing it inside to Taylor. The frontman took a touch inside the penalty area before routinely placing the ball into the far corner.
It could’ve been 2-0 very soon after, as Ramshaw played Mondal in behind the Sandgrounders’ high line on halfway. Mondal broke with pace into a one on one with Renshaw, who made himself big and produced a brilliant save to deny Moors.
The home side opened the second half with clear ambition. They advanced down the right with pace with the ball looping into the hands of Brad James, before half time substitute Dior Angus went close with a drilled effort.
Sloppy play from the hosts then allowed Mondal into space. He strode toward goal, skipped inside and hit one with power, but his shot was deflected wide – a let off for Southport.
The momentum of the game really began to shift into The Sandgrounders’ favour after the introduction of Angus, and it was evident that they were driving hard to grab the equaliser.
Substitute Jack Stafford dispatched a shot on goal from 20 yards out. The low strike flew goalward, before being thwarted by James, who did well to get down and stop what would’ve been a decent goal.
Disaster struck for Moors on the 70th minute, as Southport’s change of tune in the second half finally forced a real chance. Connor Evans broke into the Moors penalty area and was dragged to ground by Fin Shrimpton, with the referee awarding a penalty, which Angus tucked away calmly into the right of the net.
Southport were sensing a chance to press on for victory but just seemed to lose their focus as Ramshaw charged from his area and clattered into Ramshaw on the edge of the box just minutes later.
The responsibility for the resultant free kick fell to Matty Dolan, who had been conveniently subbed on just minutes earlier. The experienced midfielder took the set piece and floated one into the top corner past Renshaw, who, rooted to his line, could only watch as the ball flew in. Moors were back on top.
It was Lee’s men who had been victims themselves of two quickfire goals just days ago at Brackley – this time it was Moors’ turn to go for it themselves. Mondal, who had caused the hosts’ defence real problems throughout the game, received the ball about 40 yards from goal, drove forward, and smashed an unstoppable strike into the top right-hand corner.
Moors had suddenly drawn away from Southport, with the deficit seemingly insurmountable by this point. The away side now led 3-1 with just 14 minutes to go.
It was evident that Southport had lost their spark and Moors looked to capitalise on their loss of morale. This was put into action with just three minutes of normal time left as loanee striker Aidan Rutledge, who had replaced Taylor, thumped home to round off the result and confirm the three points.
A great reverse ball from Dolan reached the frontman, who stood up his man, tricked him into the wrong direction, and fired into the opposite bottom corner, past Renshaw who had already committed himself to the near post.
A brilliant victory for Moors to get back to winning ways – and what a time to do it, with the huge FA Trophy round of 16 tie against Boston United looming on Saturday
Full Time: Southport 1 Moors 4
Moors: James, Dyson, Ledger, Rowe (Beals 89), Staunton, Shrimpton (Dolan 73), Ross, Mondal (Hancox 81), Ramshaw, McKeown, Taylor (Rutledge 85).
Subs not used: Johnson
Booked: Rowe (62), Staunton (64).
Southport: Renshaw, Minihan (Angus 46), Quansah, Moore, Pickles, Doyle (Stafford 57), Philliskirk (Burgess 78), Williams, Morgan, Hilton, Evans (Renato 73).
Subs not used: Thomson
Booked: Renshaw (74).
Referee: Luis Griffiths
Attendance: 678 (21 Moors)
Match Report: Noah Betts
