Radcliffe host Southport on matchday 28 of our 2024/25 National League North campaign, with only three places between the two sides, the importance of this afternoon’s game shouldn’t be underestimated as we edge towards the business end of the season.

With a record of two wins, two draws and two defeats in league action so far in 2025, the Boro could further extend their lead over the rest of the teams in the final third of the table with a victory against Southport.

The Opposition

Jim Bentley’s men have had a mixed bag of results so far in the 2024/25 campaign, winning and drawing nine games each, whilst also losing eleven. Having kept ten clean sheets with Chris Renshaw in goal, Southport are relatively hard to break down at times and will be aiming for another shutout in Greater Manchester. 

Their recent form won’t have been the desired results at the start of the year, with only two wins in their last ten fixtures in all competitions. Southport’s most recent victory came in midweek as they walked away from Alfreton Town with an impressive 2-0 result, so they’ll be looking to make it back-to-back away wins for the first time this season.

Ones To Watch

A goalscorer in the reverse fixture, Southport’s top scorer Danny Lloyd has been an impressive player for the west coast outfit since his summer arrival. The former Stockport County, Peterborough United and Salford City man has 10 goals to his name this season, last scoring in a 1-1 draw with Hereford three weeks ago.

Another experienced player amongst the Sandgrounders squad, Jamie Proctor has led the line in the majority of this season’s starting teams for Southport. With Bolton Wanderers, Preston North End and Port Vale amongst his former sides, he’ll be aiming to test Mateusz Hewelt in the Radcliffe sticks and show his attacking prowess.

Stat Pack

19th – League Position – 16th
27 – Games Played – 29
26 – Points – 36
6 – Wins – 9
8 – Draws – 9
13 – Losses – 11
32 – Goals For – 32
50 – Goals Against – 40
Hulme (8) – Top Goalscorer – Lloyd (10)

Last Time Out

7th September 2024 – Southport 2-2 Radcliffe

At the start of September, the Boro left the Big Help Stadium with a point when it could’ve been so much more, as Radcliffe had a two-goal cushion cancelled out after the restart. 

Josh Hancock got the afternoon off to the perfect start inside eight minutes for Bernard and Jonno’s side, converting his fourth of the campaign to give Radcliffe an early lead. After Jordan Hulme’s driven run to the byline, the striker laid it on a plate for his teammate to tap into an empty net inside the six-yard area.

Moments after Danny Lloyd tested the gloves of Mateusz Hewelt from a narrow angle for the first time in the game, our advantage was doubled as Anthony Dudley raced in behind the Southport back line via Matt Sargent’s header, staying composed to poke beyond Chris Renshaw and into the back of the net.

Radcliffe enjoyed a good spell of attacking possession at the start of the second half, but it would be the home side who put away the next goal of the game, setting up an agonising final 27 minutes.

Luke Burgess found himself in behind from a lofted forward pass and nonchalantly slotted it beyond Hewelt, his teammates then frantically looked to grab the ball to quicken up the following restart with a spring in their step.

On the 77-minute mark, Southport’s pressure paid dividends as the hosts restored parity in an unorthodox fashion, sparking jubilant celebrations from the home supporters on the west coast.

Lloyd’s corner from the right-hand side was headed away but sent back out wide to him, he then thumped an in-swinging cross towards the danger zone which bounced amongst the six-yard area, before nestling into the far corner of the net without an added touch on the ball.

Five additional minutes were added on top of the initial 90 and despite a late scare from then Southport striker Tunde Owolabi who struck the outside of the right post deep into added time, the points were shared at the Big Help Stadium with Southport being the happier of the two teams.

Matchday Information

Date: 08/02/25
Time: 3pm kick-off
Location: Neuven Stadium

Adults – £15
Concessions – £10
U16 – Free

Tickets can be purchased online here.

Can’t Attend The Game?

Listen to live kick-by-kick commentary over on Radcliffe Radio, click here to tune in from 2:45pm. 

Around The Grounds

Brackley Town v Peterborough Sports
Curzon Ashton v King’s Lynn Town
Darlington v Marine
Farsley Celtic v Needham Market
Hereford v Spennymoor Town
Kidderminster Harriers v Chorley
Oxford City v Leamington
Rushall Olympic v Buxton
Scarborough Athletic v Alfreton Town
South Shields v Chester
Warrington Town v Scunthorpe United