SOUTHPORT and Chorley play out a tense stalemate in a derby that had everything but a goal.

The game started slowly but it was a defensive mistake in the 20th minute which brought the first half to life.

Adam Henley’s misjudged header worried keeper Matt Urwin, who saw the ball bounce off the post and on to himself before being able to claim the ball on the line.

Southport enjoyed a dominant spell through the rest of the half with chances coming from Sonny Hilton and Keenan Quansah.

Chorley managed to threaten in the additional two minutes as George Horbury thought he’d scored but the flag was up as the midfielder drifted offside.

The home side had a chance after the break as some smart passing down the left saw Luke Burgess through but a tackle by Mark Ellis cleared the danger.

Chances came for both sides after the hour mark after Jamie Proctor found Danny Lloyd, who drove to the byline but his cut back failed to find a yellow shirt.

A few minutes later, Chorley substitute Dubem Eze skipped away from the tackle of two Sandgrounders midfielders but his effort from range was comfortably saved by goalkeeper Chris Renshaw.

STAR MAN: Keenan Quansah (Southport) ENTERTAINMENT: 2/5

Another home clean sheet for The Sandgrounders but also another blank in the goals for column.

Our 5th 0-0 draw of the season and after a lively start the outcome was fairly predictable as the half time whistle blew with neither side creating many clear cut chances.

Southport’s best chance came in the 20th minute from a misplaced header back to the keeper which looked like it was across the line but the referee’s assistant didnt give it, video and photographic evidence is inconclusive but those in line and behind the goal all seemed to think it was in. The men that mattered didn’t agree and that was the closest we came to breaking the deadlock.

The conceding from set pieces was the big weakness in the game at Chorley earlier in the season when all four goals came courtesy of an Adam Blakeman assist from a set piece but there was no evidence of that in this game with a strong Southport rearguard offering very little to the Chorley attack.