Local Sport

Bumper crowd help city over the line

Like a geriatric marathon runner stumbling over the finish line, ECFC laboured to a 2-1 victory over already relegated Southport on Saturday, ensuring a play-off place and raised blood pressure of ECFC's loyal brigade.

Trailing 1-0 at half-time, ECFC came out for the second half in determined mood – cheered on by a whopping mob of over six and a half thousand – scoring twice and hitting the woodwork a handful of times.

With a play-off final at Wembley dangling like a carrot in front of a donkey (or Torquay United striker), ECFC will need to put in a much improved performance against Oxford in the play-off semis.