Southport contiued their impressive first day record, with a hard earned victory at Gainsborough.

Gainsborough made the first couple of chances of the game as Louis McMahon and Colin Marrison both saw their early chances skid across the area and out for goal-kicks. Southport’s first chance came just before the quarter hour maek as Noone’s corner from the right landed to Tony Gray, who headed the ball down into the ground, with the ball bouncing over the bar. Southport still had to ride the storm, with Ryan Mallon seizing upon a half-clearance from Earl Davis, but his volley was hit wide.

Ciaran Kilheeney had a good chance to open the scoring for Southport as Mark Duffy whipped in a free-kick deep from the left wing, with Kilheeney’s shot striking the cross bar, with the rebound falling to Tony Gray whose shot was cleared for a corner by Colin Marrison.

Kilheeney had a glorious chance to score on 35 minutes after some patient build-up play saw Doolan play the ball calmly to Duffy, who did well under-pressure to get the ball over towards the back post where Kilheeney headed just wide whilst being closley tracked by the Gainsborough defence. Kilheeney was offered another gilt-edged chance with five minutes remaining in the first half as Noone did well to take the ball into the middle from the left wing, knocking the ball forward to Kilheeney who mis-kicked his chance as Adam Sollitt surged forward, with the ball going wide.

Gainsborough started brightly again in the second half, but Southport took the lead just before the hour mark when Duffy’s fre-kick deep on the left wing was allowed to go through to Michael Powell who was un-marked on the back post, stabbing the ball in from close range.

Despite a few half-hearted flurries from the hosts, Southport’s goal took the sting out of the opposition, securing their first three points of this campaign.