A first-half brace from striker Terry Fearns earned Southport their third consecutive Nationwide North victory.

The summer signing from Vauxhall cooly put the Sandgrounders ahead after 17 minutes, before heading home his second 7 minutes later.

But an own goal from ‘Port defender Farrell Kilbane set up nervous finale, however, the home side held on for 3 deserved points.

Fearns’ first was a typical composed finish after he latched onto neat Kevin Lynch through ball. 20-yards from goal, the prolific marksman sweetly curled his shot across Alty ‘keeper Coburn and inside the far post.

Fearns doubled his and Southport’s tally when a piercing centre from Carl Baker, whipped in from the right-wing was met by a bold Fearns header. He thundered the ball into the top-left corner from 3-yards only to be injured in the process.

On 35 minutes, Fearns was thwarted by Coburn, as the ‘Port forward missed a golden opportunity to net his 6th of the season.

Chris Price released Fearns with a ball in-between defenders, but this time Coburn read it well, as Fearns was denied another curling effort.

A low header from left midfielder Jerome Fitzgerald had Alty ‘keeper Coburn anxiously scrambling to his left, as he managed to divert the ball wide.

Sandwiched in between the Southport chances, Colin Little’s 25-yard effort brought a comfortable save from home stopper Dickinson, while Little also sliced an effort wide from inside the area.

Attacking into a blustery wind and momentary downpours, Southport struggled to dominate as they had in the first half.

Altrincham enjoyed much possession while failing to over-work Dickinson, with the home side dangerous on the break for most of the second period.

On 52, a low volley from Alty’s Neil Hardy was easily collected by the home ‘keeper while a shot Stephen Rose whistled wide.

Southport’s Terry Fearns failed to make the most of a sharp pass from Lynch, while Williams teamed up with Baker down the right to provide a chance for Fitzgerald who headed into the hands of Stuart Coburn.

The visitors fortuitously halved the deficit thanks to an own goal from Southport’s Farrell Kilbane with 20 minutes remaining.

Stephen Aspinall’s delivery from the right clipped the head of the ‘Port defender before spinning into the top left-hand corner.

On as substitute, former ‘Port striker Peter Wright failed to connect with Aspinall’s cross from the right at the back post.

And as the game headed for a tense ending, ‘Port ‘keeper Dickinson was at full stretch to deny defender Mark Maddox in stoppage time.