A stoppage-time strike from substitute Lee Mulvaney gave Southport victory in a dramatic finale at the Moorlands.

The classic footballing cliché of a game of two halves was never more evident than this afternoon. After bossing early proceedings, Southport raced into a 2-0 first-half lead, only to be saved by sub Mulvaney after collapsing against a revitalised Moor Green.

Following 2 poor home outings, the slick Sandgrounders produced the type of forceful showing their followers had been eagerly anticipating.

In the opening minutes, Terry Fearns rounded Bradley on the left side of the Moor Green box, before squaring to Carl Baker whose shot was blocked by Guy Sanders. Perhaps the shot may have been the better option for the striker Fearns.

The visitors continued to pile forward, with returning winger Kevin Leadbetter and the impressive Kevin Lynch on his debut, both shooting over.

The Southport breakthrough came after 25 minutes, when goal-getter Fearns was released by former Vauxhall team-mate Lynch. The striker shrugged off right-back Bradley before rounding ‘keeper Rachel and tucking the ball into the empty net.

And Fearns could have doubled his personal tally less than 5 minutes later, but failed control Fitzgerald’s cross from the left, while Neil Robinson saw his shot from the right parried for a corner by Rachel.

But the exuberant Robinson was not to be denied as he extended the ‘Port’s advantage after some excellent Southport approach work on 40 minutes.

Fitzhenry fed the ball wide to Baker who advanced upfield before releasing a pin-point cross for Robinson. He rose above the defence to thunder home a header in typical robust fashion.

The home side, mere spectators during the first period, came to life in the dying stages of the half. Matty Hall crossed and Phil Trainer’s header from 10-yards whistled wide.

But whatever Moors’ manager Bob Faulkner said during the interval, it certainly worked as the home-side remerged a totally transformed outfit.

Southport began to sit back, former Aston Villa trainee Darren Middleton shot wide and from then on, Moor Green grew in confidence.

In a dramatic goal-mouth scramble, ‘keeper Dickinson parried aBarry Williams shot, while defender Pickford blocked Kyle Perry’s shot from the rebound.

Ex- Kidderminster striker Peter Faulds was brought on and proved trouble for the Southport defence. He halved the Moors’ deficit on 65 minutes following some smart play down the left.

Pacey winger Matty Hall dinked the ball over for Faulds who cooly lobbed Dickinson from close range.

Barry Williams forced a fine reflex save from Dickinson on 75, as the striker met a right-wing centre with a vicious header, only for the ‘Port stopper to repel to his right.

The deserved Moor Green equaliser came on 80 minutes. A corner from the right was headed into the Southport net by sub Jae Martin, who flicked home the cross 10-yards from goal.

But as the visitors thought they would be left to rue their missed chances, manager Watson gambled by ordering a full change of strikers. And the gamble paid off.

Steve Daly and Lee Mulvaney, both with a point to prove, replaced Robinson and Fearns and they at it from the off.

Daly failed to fully connect with a shot after cutting inside from the right, while the speed Mulvaney was too much to handle for the home defence.

But nothing could prepare the crowd for the sensational ending, as Southport broke quickly following a Moor Green attack.

Dickinson raked a ball upfied allowing Mulvaney to turn Guy Sanders before sprinting 40-yards down the right. Cutting inside, the mazy Mulvaney shrugged off Perry, then stroked the ball past advancing ‘keeper Adam Rachel before joining the jubilant Southport followers in celebration.

Mulvaney was cautioned for inciting the crowd, as the vocal travelers reeled through their ever-growing list of songs just as they had done throughout the afternoon.