A windy afternoon at Haig Avenue – Southport kick the first half towards the Blowick end of the ground. Southport found it difficult to break the off-side trap regularly set by Town, with two early chances thwarted by the Assistant flag over on the far side. When they did break through, Matty McGinn dipped the ball in from the left-wing, but after his defender mis-kicked his clearance, the chance was tidied up by Jom Provett. Minutes later though, Southport offered Town a wonderful chance to break the deadlock as the ball fell to Jamie Smith right in front of goal, but Tony McMillan spread himself well, blocking the goal-bound shot.

Southport took the lead from a corner which went through to Ciaran Kilheeney at the back post, and with his second shot at the target, the ball flew through the crowd of players, ending up in the back of the net.

Harrogate were a constant danger, nearly equalising within five minutes as Nathan Peat’s corner was assisted by the wind, hitting the cross bar, with the ball rebounding out to Matt Young whose shot from the edge of the area cleared the Jack Carr stand. But it was one of those games were Port needed to be patient, and John Doolan created a chance for Mark Duffy, but his shot went wide from the edge of the area.

The second half took a while to get going, as both teams cancelled each other out in midfield. The only early chance of replying for Town was a free-kick which went through to Justin Whittle, but he headed over. Tony Gray persisted in pressuring the Town keeper from a pass-back, forcing a corner from the keeper who panicked under pressure.

Tony Gray did well getting space on the right wing with twenty minutes remaining, and did well to get the ball across the six yard box, but the advancing Mark Duffy was just unable to connect to what would have been a certain second. Earl Davis just headed over with under ten minutes remaining from Mark Duffy’s corner, but Southport needed to stay on their toes if they were to hold on to their slender lead. Despite a few scares, they did hold on to make it nine points out of nine.