Southport completed a Conference double at the expense of struggling Chester City and in doing so completed their second consecutive away victory without conceding a goal. Shaun Teale returned to the starting line-up at the expense of injured John Robertson and the former Premiership player put in a top rate performance to keep Chester’s dangerman Mark Beesley at bay.

The early exchanges were evenly balanced with Steve Dickinson gathering a couple of low shots and Steve Whitehall’s shot drifting past the angle between the far post and crossbar. Both sides had their moments in the first half without many clear cut chances. Steve Dickinson gave the 200 plus travelling Sandgrounders a fright as he cam out of the box only to tread on the ball and almost conceded possession but managed to hammer the ball into the stand.

But early in the second half, Chester’s on loan striker Brown fired over from 12 yards when he should have found the target. Steve Dickinson then spilled a fierce low skidding shot but was quickest to the rebound. Neil Grayston couldn’t believe his luck as he found himself one on one with the out of form Chester ‘keeper Wayne Brown, but he failed to keep the ball under control when a goal looked an absolute certainty.

Southport were robbed of a goal when an in-swinging corner was scooped form behind the line by the City ‘keeper, but the referee and linesman got the decision totally wrong and awarded a goal-kick – something it could never have been. But the ‘Port were not to be denied and opened the scoring in the 80th minute. Steve Whitehall beat the offside trap, racing on to a through ball and taking it round the ‘keeper to slot home the opener.

On 87 minutes another through ball again beat the offside trap. Steve Whitehall was in an offside position but coming back as Simon Parke scythed through the defence to net in another one-on-one with Brown.

There was still time for substitute Tony Sullivan to twice go close and Chester to find the net from a rebound off Dicksinon and the post only for the offside flag to deny them a consolation.

A total of 32 points on the board now and Southport can relax until Boxing Day when Morecambe visit Haig Avenue