Darlington progressed to the second round of the FA Cup with Southport left to rue their missed opportunities that should have earned them at least a replay.
Strike partners Ian Arnold and former Darlington front man Lee Ellison were the guilty parties as the Conference side opened the game the strongest.
In the 18th minute Ellison broke clear and after seeing Darlington ‘keeper Andy Collett off his goal-line tried an audacious chip that ended wide of the goal.
Then Ellison cut inside to collect Mark Stuart’s cross and was left holding his head in his hands after seeing his shot, from eight yards out, go wide of the target.
Former Manchester City midfielder Neil Heaney tried a long range effort, but was wide of the target, as Darlington launched a rare attack on the Southport goal.
The home side were clearly nervous and Southport continued to pour forward in search of an opening goal.
However, it was Darlington who took the lead, against the run of play in the 35th minute when captain Steve Tutill rose highest at the far post to power in Heaney’s corner. The Quakers’ midfielder Phil Brumwell was lucky to stay on the field after an elbow into the face of Andy Gouck left the Southport man in need of attention. Referee Steve Baines only showed Brumwell a yellow card.
Play was halted again for four minutes before the interval when Arnold and Collett collided inside the Darlington area and both players required treatment before being able to continue.
Ellison wasted a glorious opportunity to put the visitors level in the last minute of the half when his poor first touch allowed the Darlington defence to clear, then Arnold fired against the crossbar three minutes into stoppage-time.
Darlington made a substitution at the break when 17-year-old ‘keeper Keith Finch replaced Collett who was unable to continue for the second half.
Finch was quickly into the action as Ellison bore down on goal, but again his finishing let him down.
Southport grabbed a deserved equaliser with a carbon copy of Darlington’s opener. Stuart sent over a corner and Phil Bolland bulleted a header that left Finch grasping for thin air.
Darlington were handed a debatable 77th minute penalty when the referee spotted a handball in the visitors penalty area. Marco Gabbiadini struck his ninth goal of the season from the spot to put the home side in front.
Teenager Finch earned his stripes with a series of late saves that kept the home side in front.
Two minutes from time a pile-driver from Lee Furlong was pushed over by the Darlington ‘keeper to set up a second round tie away at either Gillingham or Cheltenham.
Match Report (C) football.sports.com