The first shot at goal came through Nick Makin when he sent a shot towards goal which was deflected wide of the far post off a Southport defender after five minutes.

After 11 minutes Southport registered their first shot at goal through Michael Powell who got a touch on a loose ball his tame effort never caused any problems for the Morecambe goalkeeper.

Moments later and Morecambe almost took the lead when the Southport defence switched off allowing Paul Lloyd to capitalise and he sent the ball just wide of Aaron Cameron’s right hand post.

Another mixup in the Southport defence almost lead to a goal for the Shrimps after 16 minutes. Aaron Cameron appeared to have the ball under control but the Southport goalkeeper spilled to the feet of Gareth Arnison but Cameron recovered well and he managed to block Arnison’s shot at the expense of a throw in.

Morecambe finally made Aaron Cameron pay for one of his mistakes on 19 minutes when Nick Makin jinxed past the Southport defence and sent a shot straight at Cameron which the Southport goalkeeper parried into the path of Gareth Arnison who sent a shot into the roof of the net from close range.

Southport almost put the ball in their own net on 25 minutes when Paul Lloyd cut into the penalty area from the right and sent a slow cross into the area where a ‘Port defender cut out the cross, wrong footing Aaron Cameron, and sending the ball just wide of the near post.

A foul on the edge of the area on Scott Ford presented Morecambe with a good chance on the half hour mark. Nick Makin stepped up to take the resulting free kick and his shot was sent towards the far post but Aaron Cameron was able to palm his shot away from the penalty area.

Two minutes later and Michael Powell wasted a glorious opportunity from close range when he volleyed a shot over the crossbar from inside the six yard box.

With 5 minutes left in the half Morecambe almost scored an own goal themselves when a cross from the left was cut out by Jamie Davies but the ball deflected towards goal leaving Davies having to stretch to clear the ball off the line.

The first attempt in the second half was a fantastic effort from Paul Lloyd. Lloyd picked up the ball in the middle of the park before embarking on a superb run through the heart of the Southport defence and sent a fierce shot crashing against the crossbar before it flew away from the danger zone.

At the other end a corner kick from the right was met by the head of Adam Roscoe and the Southport striker’s header went just wide of the far post with Ryan Robinson stranded on his line in the Morecambe goal.

On the hour mark Danny Mahoney, playing in the centre of midfield, unleashed a shot heading towards the top right hand corner before Aaron Cameron pushed the ball wide.