Friendlies Clubs· Season 2026
Southport beat Warrington Town 3-2 in a five-goal pre-season friendly at Cantilever Park, with goals from Edwards, Wynne and Lloyd securing the win.
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow It Unfolded
Southport opened the scoring in the 15th minute through Christy Edwards, who found the net to put the visitors ahead. Ben Wynne doubled the advantage on 37 minutes, leaving Warrington with a mountain to climb.
But the Yellows responded swiftly. Former Southport player Jack Doyle pulled one back for Warrington in the 40th minute, only for Danny Lloyd to restore Southport's two-goal cushion just three minutes later, making it 3-1 at the interval.
Warrington reduced the deficit again in the 62nd minute when Reece Daly — son of former Southport forward Steve Daly — converted a penalty. Despite sustained pressure, the home side could not find a third to level the scores.
The Turning Point
Lloyd's strike on the stroke of half-time was decisive. Warrington had built momentum through Doyle's goal and looked capable of going in level. Instead, Lloyd's finish gave Southport a 3-1 lead at the break — a psychological blow that meant Warrington were chasing two goals in the second half rather than one.
Key Performers
- Danny Lloyd (Southport): The Southport captain scored the crucial third goal just before half-time, killing Warrington's momentum. He also captained the side on the day.
- Christy Edwards (Southport): Opened the scoring with a composed finish in the 15th minute, setting the tone for Southport's dominant first half.
- Jack Doyle (Warrington Town): The former Southport player scored against his old club to spark Warrington's revival, finishing clinically in the 40th minute.
- Reece Daly (Warrington Town): Converted a second-half penalty to set up a tense finish, adding a subplot as the son of former Southport player Steve Daly.
By The Numbers — Interpreted
The 3-2 scoreline (1-3 at half-time) tells a clear story: Southport dominated the first 45 minutes, scoring three times, while Warrington improved markedly after the break. The hosts' second-half penalty — and the pressure that followed — suggests the Yellows grew into the game as Southport's legs tired. Pre-season friendly caveats apply, but Southport's early sharpness in front of goal is a positive sign for the new campaign.
What It Means
The result caps a strong weekend for Southport, who completed a quick-fire double-header winning weekend according to the club's official match report. For Warrington, the performance showed resilience after going 2-0 down, but defensive vulnerabilities in the first half will be a focus for manager Paul Carden ahead of the season.
- Warrington Town's next fixture: Away at Marine on Tuesday 28 July 2026 (7:30pm).
- Southport's next fixture: Home vs Wigan Athletic on Friday 31 July 2026 (7:45pm).
Verdict
A lively pre-season workout that delivered exactly what friendlies should: goals, momentum shifts, and minutes for both squads. Southport's first-half intensity was the difference, though Warrington's second-half response suggests they will be competitive this season.
Both sides will take positives — and clear areas for improvement — as they build toward the 2026-27 National League North campaign.
Rivalry since 2020
Warrington Town vs Southport Head to Head Results· 8
Warrington Town and Southport have met 8 times — Warrington Town won 1, Southport won 6, with 1 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2020. Southport leads the head-to-head with 6 victories from 8 meetings. A combined 22 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 2.75 per match (5 for the home side, 17 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 1 match (13%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 6 games (75%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. Southport are currently unbeaten in the last 5 meetings. The highest-scoring encounter finished 0–4 in 2023.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 1 Aug 2026