With Southport going in to the game out of form, under a temporary manager and on the back of three defeats and Morecambe coming to Haig Ave in form after three consecutive wins the omens were not looking good for The Sandgrounders.

“Football is a funny game” has been said on many occasions and tonight proved that to be true once again with Southport coming out on top 2-1 in a pulsating game from start to finish.

Southport looked a totally different side to the one that failed to hit the target once at Spalding on Saturday.

When Adam Moseley opened the scoring after 25 minutes from a goalmouth scramble after a corner the home supporters were in raptures.

The second hald saw constant pressure on the home goal but some excellent defensive work, confident goalkeeping from debutant Douglass Lukjanciks and wayward finsihing looked like Southport were going to hang on.

Morecambe did get the equaliser their pressure deserved after 81 minutes through Elliot Newby and at that stage most people thought they would go on and win it.

Three minutes later Haig Ave erupted as Daniel Ogwuru was on hand to head home to make it 2-1.

Morecambe pushed hard for an equaliser but the home rearguard stood firm and after six long added minutes the referee blew his whistle and an excellent win was in the record books.

It was the first league game between the sides since January 2007 and the first Southport win since January 2001.

Line Up : Lukjanciks, Pike (Solomon 90+2) Dwyer, Lavelle, Jameson, Davies, Lloyd(R Griffiths 60) L Griffiths, Slew, Williams (McKenzie 72) Moseley (Ogwuru 78)

Unused Subs Honor, Edwards, Orisakwe.

Attendance 2003

Sponsors Man Of The Match (Volare) was Luke Griffiths but it could have gone to any of the fifteen players involved. Luke receives the Adam Le Roi Trophy and a gift from Volare.