George Pickford helped to keep Southport FC in their game against Hereford United, laying the foundation for a valuable win<\/p>\n
Teenage goalkeeper George Pickford was hailed as \u201coutstanding\u201d after helping Southport<\/a> secure an important win on his debut.<\/p>\n The 19-year-old\u2019s loan spell was confirmed on Friday, the Everton<\/a> academy shotstopper moving to Haig Avenue for his first taste of senior football after an impressive campaign with the club\u2019s Under-21s.<\/p>\n He was thrown straight into the starting XI as the Sandgrounders hosted Hereford United and excelled as his new side earned a win that moved them away from the National League North relegation zone.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Former Everton favourite ‘so happy’ and finally close to progress after 37 month injury hell<\/a>READ MORE: Peter Reid tackles Everton home form, European hopes and James Garner’s best position – ‘go for it’<\/a><\/p>\n Southport triumphed 5-1 and Pickford only lost his clean sheet due to a late consolation from the penalty spot. But a solid display from the Blues youngster in the first half kept Southport in the game – with the club\u2019s own website conceding that \u201cbut for a string of first class saves by debutant George Pickford in the Southport goal in the first half\u2026 the scoreline could easily have been 0-4\u201d.<\/p>\n After the match, Southport boss Neil Danns backed up that viewpoint<\/a> as he lavished praise on Pickford. He said: \u201cI thought he was outstanding\u2026 We weren\u2019t at the races in the first half and he had to get us out of a couple of sticky situations. It is testament to the work Everton have been doing with him and I feel really fortunate that we have now got him until, hopefully, the end of the season.\u201d<\/p>\n Pickford, who joined Everton at the age of 11, signed a two year extension before the move – a deal Danns described as \u201cmassive\u201d.<\/p>\n