Urged on by a following approaching 1000 Southport went into an early 2-0 lead in a frantic end to end game. It was felt that the match was lost before it began with influential players Graham Barrow and Graham Cunneely both ruled out. The 2-0 lead was squandered by half time with Alty pulling it back with goals in the 38th and 45th minutes. Southport were under the cosh in the second half with incessant pressure on our goal and it was no surprise when in the 77th minute Southport conceded what looked like the killer goal. It was not to be and a penalty in the 88th minute coolly slammed home by Maurice Whittle looked to be enough to send the tie into a replay at Haig Avenue. Southport thought they had got out of jail as apart from the opening 15 minutes they had really taken a battering. Altrincham had other ideas and surged upfield in the second minute of stoppage time. Cliff Woof was penalised for a foul by the touchline. The free kick resulted in poor marking and Johnson was allowed to make a good 10 yards unchallenged to beat Dalrymple with a firm header at the near post. Disappointment all round for Southport in a game full of incident from start to finish.