Southport’s impressive start to the season ground to a disastrous halt with a disjointed performance against an average Ashton side.

The Sandgrounders lacked cohesion, creative fluidity and team work as they were continually thwarted by a compact Ashton rearguard. They failed to vary their play through a flat midfield, thus leaving strikers Fearns and Robinson little chance against physically superior opponents.

If it had not been for some poor finishing from the Ashton strikers, the scoreline could have been more embarrassing for the ‘Port, who failed to test a side who were rooted to the foot of the table prior to kick-off, both goalless and pointless.

The evening started frustratingly before a ball had even been kicked. Defensive rock Neil Fitzhenry was named in the initial starting XI, only to miss the first half due to traffic congestion. The absence of Fitzhenry was clear and while he missed the first 45 minutes, but the play also seemed to bypass the players on the field.

Ashton took the lead after 5 minutes when a ball from the right found the unmarked Josh Mitten in the heart of the penalty area. The former Radcliffe frontman took one touch before sliding the ball into Dickinson’s bottom-left hand corner.

Southport tried their luck from range with Baker’s 30-yard pile drive tipped over by United stopper Ashley Connor. Kevin Leadbetter saw his out-swinging cross from left side of the penalty area ghost across face of an empty goal, as Fearns and Price failed to make contact.

The visitors almost doubled their advantage on the counter-attack, as Mitten shot wide seconds after a Southport free-kick was blocked. Paul Garvey and Dean Johnson both forced parrying saved from ‘keeper Dickinson, as defensively, Southport were jaded.

Fitzhenry’s half-time inclusion went some way to balancing a lacklustre back-line, which appeared stripped of the early season momentum.

The ‘Port leveller came 10 minutes after the re-start after they broke from defence smartly and in clinical fashion. Kevin Leadbetter’s down-field ball allowed Fearns to release Robinson with a faint header.

Robinson, as determined as ever, shrugged off the challenge of Lincoln Adams on the left-wing before whipping in a dangerous centre which was fluffed into his own goal by Colin Alcide.

But any hopes of a Southport revival were severely hampered as winger Kevin Leadbetter allowed petulance to get the better of him. He was issued an instant dismissal after appearing to abuse the referee’s assistant.

From then on, Southport resumed on the defensive, as the visitors continued to exploit space on the Southport left, while the midfield provided inadequate cover. Make-shift full-back Steve Pickford was caught wanting on numerous occasions, which created room for Ashton in the centre of the ‘Port defence.

With 15 minutes remaining, the visitors secured a deserved victory when Paul Garvey capitalised on defensive indecision from Southport, as he lofted the ball over Dickinson.

Phil Cooney’s header at the far post was acrobatically cleared by Pickford following a raking ball from the left, while Johnson blazed over when he should have done better.

While it was hard not to get carried away with three impressive early-season outings, it is equally important that players and supporters alike do not become depleted with the first step back for Liam Watson’s Sandgrounders this season.

The ‘Port boss will certainly earn his money this week, with 2 games in 3 days this bank holiday weekend and some big, big decisions to be made.