An afternoon of frustration at Haig Avenue, where Southport were held to their first goalless draw in 11 months, leaving manager Liam Watson to rue a series of missed chances.

Despite a strong second-half performance, the Sandgrounders lacked the cutting edge needed to prise open a well-drilled Workington defence, as they remain level on points with leaders Tamworth.

Southport have won one of their last five matches in all competitions but Watson was heartened by the response of his side after a poor opening 45 minutes.

“I thought the second-half was pleasing,” he said. “It’s been the first time in the last five or six matches that it’s looked like what we’re about. We closed and harried people, and got the ball forward relatively quickly. The wingers got crosses in the box and we’ve had more than enough chances to win it.

“I thought our performance in the first-half was pretty dire. They came with a plan to pack out the middle of the park and we were too narrow. But I’ve taken a big positive out of today because I thought the second-half was the best we’ve played for a good while.”

Watson confirmed that he will make changes for Tuesday night’s visit to Stafford Rangers in the third round of the Setanta Shield, but Ross Atkins, the 18-year old debutant on loan from Derby County, will remain in goal in midweek before returning to his parent club.

Atkins, deputising for the suspended Tony McMillan, was drawn into saves from the only two chances of a first-half in which both sides offered little creativity. The keeper thwarted Graham Anthony’s 20-yard effort, before denying Tony Hopper after the Port defence had failed to fully clear a corner.

The Sandgrounders began the second period with much more urgency, but despite setting the early pace with Michael Barnes placing a dipping shot narrowly wide, a killer touch proved elusive.

Alan Moogan was presented with a well-constructed chance, receiving the ball after Tony Gray had played in Neil Robinson, only for keeper Adam Collin to produce a solid save.

The most contentious moment of the afternoon was the decision of referee Paul Brabin to overrule his assistant and dismiss Southport’s claims for a penalty for an apparent handball by Gary Rowntree. “It’s the first time I’ve seen that happen,” Watson said. “The linesman was obviously in a far better position to see it but that’s just the way it goes at the minute.”

Collin also produced an instinctive stop to deny Robinson’s header, while Tony Gray guided a shot marginally wide, as Southport failed to find a way through.

Despite spending most of the second period on the back foot, Workington created arguably the most clear-cut chances. Shaun Vipond blazed wide of the far post after a cross from Anthony, while Phil McLuckie lifted a shot over the bar when under pressure from Michael Powell with Atkins out of his goal.