Southport progress into the third qualifying round after an excellent performance sees us win 3-2 against Radcliffe.The home side started off, as we have throughout the season, on the front foot. Chances came early on with Gnahoua and Simms seeing efforts blocked from inside the area.

Port thought they had opened the scoring in the 37th minute after Slew found the back of the net with a header but the referee blew for a foul in the build-up.

It wasn’t long for the deadlock to be broken however, after the aforementioned striker got fouled in the box, Touray was awarded a penalty which he dispatched with ease.

The lead didn’t last long however as just before the half Radcliffe equalised, a bobbling effort in the box landed to the feet of Brad Jackson who tapped in from close range.

Southport should have regained the lead just before the hour mark, a flurry of chances afforded with Simms and Slew combining on three occasions but unable to find the back of the net.

The second goal came on the 60th minute after another great move saw Port in and around the Radcliffe box, Touray turned provider to set up Gnahoua who took a touch before firing into the far corner for his fourth goal of the season.

Momentum stayed with the home side for the majority of the second half, chance after chance being created, each just lacking that clinical finish needed to put the game out of reach.

With the clock running down Port found a third goal to seal the victory, Gnahoua sent through by substitute Burgess and the striker set the ball back to the sub who took a touch past the defender and slotted home.

Radcliffe added what was merely a consolation in the final few minutes of added time after a cross into the box landed at the feet of Smith who fired home from close range.

Southport advanced to the third qualifying round of the FA Cup with a 3-2 victory over Radcliffe at Haig Avenue, producing a strong second-half performance to settle a tie that swung both ways.

It was Radcliffe who almost struck first, as Greenfield gained possession in the final third, skipped past two defenders and drilled a shot from a tight angle that crashed against the foot of the post. Southport then thought they had taken the lead in the 37th minute when Jordan Slew headed in, only for the referee to blow for a foul on Roscoe as he rose to meet the cross.

The breakthrough eventually arrived on 41 minutes when Jordan Slew was brought down in the box by John Taylor. Mo Touray calmly converted from the spot to give Southport the lead, but it didn’t last long as Radcliffe equalised in first-half stoppage time. Rio Clegg’s initial shot was blocked, before Brad Jackson – who made 25 appearances for Southport during a loan spell from Burnley in 2017 – turned in the rebound.

After the restart, the Sandgrounders took control. On the hour mark, Slew linked with Arthur Gnahoua, who cut inside from the right and drove a precise finish into the bottom corner for his fourth goal of the season. The decisive third arrived a minute from time when Gnahoua, involved again with the assist, cut the ball back for substitute Luke Burgess, who rounded a defender and slotted home under pressure.

There was still time for late drama as Radcliffe grabbed a consolation in the fourth of five minutes of added time, bundling the ball in after what looked like a foul on goalkeeper Chris Renshaw went unpunished, but Southport’s progress was already assured.

Former Southport goalkeeper Mark Halstead, in the Radcliffe goal on the eve of his birthday, was kept busy throughout. New signing Jim Simms impressed on his first start with relentless running and was unlucky not to score when an effort in the second half was cleared off the line with Halstead beaten. Full-back Ben Collins again caught the eye and is quickly proving to be a real find for the future, while the experience of Jordan Keane and Sam Minihan has added the steel and nous this young side needs since their return to the side.

Southport’s reward is a trip to the north east to face Morpeth Town in the third qualifying round, the third meeting between the sides in five years at this stage of the competition.