Coleman's men couldn't handle Craig Mahon
After the 3-3 draw with Nuneaton Town I suggested there was more to come from Craig Mahon and last night further evidenced his progress.
His direct approach is refreshing to watch and he caused Southport no end of problems, twisting and turning defenders inside out.
Mahon created a half-chance for John Rooney less than 60 seconds into the game and every time he got on the ball he looked to do something positive.
His run and slip pass to Ricky Bridge created the Blues opener for Craig Hobson and the second was all his own work and it was some goal.
Once he had brought the ball under control Mahon had his mind set on one thing: he dribbled forward and drilled a sweet shot straight into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.
Southport boss John Coleman must have recognised how much threat the little Irish winger was posing because he came in for some heavy treatment in the second half.
Mahon just about survived being flattened in front of the dugouts but was less fortunate a few minutes later when he injured his shoulder after being brought down.
With the Blues having made three changes he bravely played on but winced each time he had the ball and was tough to see him in so much pain.
Mahon has blossomed under Steve Burr and has become an increasingly important member of the team so initial suggestions he might have broken his collarbone were very worrying.
Burr will be breathing a huge sigh of relief that the diagnosis is not as bad as first feared and the sooner Mahon is back on the field the better, although hopefully he'll get a little more protection from the next referee.
Admit it, Jason Jarrett makes a difference
He divides opinion but having Jason Jarrett back from suspension made a real difference to the balance of the side.
Jarrett and Andy Bond dominated midfield opponents Scott Brown and Karl Ledsham for the opening 45 minutes and remained on top in the second half.
But the dynamics of the game changed when Matty Brown went off injured and Jarrett had to drop into defence. Scott Brown began winning more second balls and Ledsham found himself able to get forward and support the front two.
Nathan Turner slotted in alongside Bond - who put in another fine performance - and the pair might have been able to cope but Turned had to switch to left back after Ricky Bridge cramped up and the Sandgrounders took charge.
Jarrett did an admirable job filling in for Matty Brown at the back but the Blues really needed him in the middle of the park to hold things together.
His strength, experience and vocal organisation give the side greater solidity and Jarrett was also more than willing to mix it up when Southport decided to rack up the aggression.
Jarrett does frustrate when tries impossible passes or turns into danger but without him the team looks far more penetrable.
A little more nous might have helped
When Craig Mahon put the hosts two up Southport had little choice but to take more chances and throw everything into getting back into the game.
Centre back Luke George was off target with a header and big keeper Aaron Chapman - who looked far more confident - denied Danny Hattersley as the visitors pressed.
You sensed that if the Blues could hold firm and keep the two goal advantage intact for 10 minutes the rally might die off so it was a killer blow to see them buckle nine minutes after Mahon struck.
What was even more annoying was that the goal was avoidable as possession had been given up far too easily when we really needed to take the sting out of the game and play some keep-ball.
If anything the side was a little too ambitious after the second goal and continued to look to attack perhaps knowing that a third would have killed the game.
It's hard to be too critical because the effort from the players was magnificent but the Blues have lost too many points from a winning position.
Retaining the ball and taking the pace out of the game is only part of the solution however because confidence is a big part of things too.
Having the belief that you can soak up pressure without conceding will only come with experience of seeing games out, something the Blues have struggled with all season.
