Southport lifted some of their away gloom with a notable win at promotion-chasing Nuneaton Borough.
This visitors, with just one win from their previous five away games, ended Borough’s eight-match unbeaten run and never looked troubled.
Third-placed Borough, who won the Dr Marten’s League last season, played second fiddle for most of the game and keeper Chris Mackenzie had to be at his best to tip Ian Arnold’s corner over the bar as early as the 11th minute.
Borough hit back and England non-league international Barry Williams carved out an opening in the 17th minute, but shot well wide.
Williams nearly made amends seven minutes later, releasing striker Delton Francis with a neat throughball, but Southport keeper Steve Dickinson was quickly off this line to clear the danger.
Southport silenced the two thousand plus Nuneaton crowd on the half-hour, home defender Wayne Simpson failing to clear a long ball out of the visitor’s defence and Arnold raced clear to slot home a low drive.
Borough went close to equalising a minute into the second half, but skipper Terry Angus smashed a header inches over the bar.
Francis nearly scored as Borough stepped up the tempo, but his deft overhead kick in the 67th minute went inches wide and former Coventry City striker Andy Ducros went close with two 20-yard efforts before defender Andy Thackeray glanced a header inches wide. But it wasn’t to be Borough’s day, especially when substitute Steve Prindiville fired an injury-time 20-yard free kick against a post, only to see Southport wrap up the points with a quick break, substitute Lee Elam beating Borough’s offside trip to score with a low drive.