Southport boss Mark Wright aimed a hefty verbal swipe at referee Eddie Ilderton in a 1-1 draw in which Scarborough striker Cehrif Diallo saw red at the McCain Stadium.

Fumed the former Liverpool and England defender: "I thought he struggled to keep control of the game and the sending-off of Diallo was not before time, as I thought he got away with a lot in the first half.

"Credit to Scarborough, they tried to play, but in all honesty I am disappointed that we didn't make the most of our possession and produce more quality balls into the penalty area."

Ironically, it was Diallo who scored Scarborough's goal just two minutes from half-time to put the hosts ahead.

However, his contribution ended 17 minutes before the final whistle when he received his second caution.

Manager Neil Thompson said: "It wasn't a pretty game but we stuck at it and our resources are being severely tested at the moment."

Matty Russell was taken off after only four minutes with an ankle injury, with Stewart Morris replacing him.

Southport had much the better of the early exchanges with ex-Aston Villa defender Shaun Teale shooting just over and the tricky Lee Elam setting up Dino Maamria with a simple chance.

The former Doncaster Rovers striker sidefooted wide from ten yards when he should have hit the target.

Scarborough were finding it difficult to make any progress, but then livewire Steve Brodie nearly opened the scoring.

Diallo's presence confused the defenders and Brodie pounced to fire in a shot which was brilliantly parried by former Guiseley 'keeper Steve Dickinson.

This proved to be Brodie's last action as he limped off with a recurrent hamstring injury, which puts his England debut against Wales on February 13 in doubt.

Diallo gave the home side the lead against the run of play when Danny Brunton's cross was nodded in by the rangy striker.

After the break, Southport pressed but were producing little direct threat.

But then Diallo, who had been cautioned for fouling Teale in the first half, clattered into Stuart Whittaker and was shown his second yellow card.

Whittaker took the free kick himself and big Australian defender Scott Guyett headed the equaliser .

Scarborough: Woods, Russell (Morris, 4), Rennison, Ellender, Thompson (Faure, 83), Brunton; Williams, Stoker, Pounder; Diallo, Brodie (Atkinson, 34).

Southport: Dickinson, Teale, Guyett, Clark; Lane (Grayson, 65), Marsh, Gouck, O'Brien (Whittaker, 56), Elam; Maamria (Arnold, 45), Parke.

Referee: E Ilderton (Tyne & Wear).

Attendance: 1,125.

Updated: 11:59 Monday, January 29, 2001