Blustery conditions met both sides at Haig Avenue, with Southport facing the strong wind in the first half, kicking towards the Jack Carr stand.

With the wind assisting, Barrow took the early initiative, causing alarm to the Southport defence as they tried to adjust to the conditions. Matt Henney’s shot was blocked by Kevin Lee going out for a corner, whilst a couple of successive Andy Bond corners caused concern as Neil Robinson cleared off the line.

Southport settled well, playing the ball to feet more confidently, with Danny Holmes setting Tony Gray through the middle of the park, only for Tim Deasy to read the danger, coming off his line to deny Gray at the crucial moment. Just before the half hour, some good build up play from Southport nearly earned them the lead as Danny Holmes whipped in the ball from the right channel through to Chris Lever who powered his diving header narrowly over.

Barrow themselves had a good chance to take the lead ten minutes later as Andy Bond freekick deep on the right wing went through to Jason Walker at the back post, but he was only able to guide the ball around the post and out for a goal kick.

Barrow started having problems getting out of their own half as Southport took advantage of the driving rain at their back, with Mark Duffy trying his luck from distance from a couple of free-kicks, and Robinson laying the ball off to Duffy whose thunder-bolt of a shot was well palmed away by Deasy, forcing a corner, as the ball threatened to go into the top right corner.

Southport lost their shape and domination, allowing the visitors into the game, with James Scales causing concern at the back as he shot through a crowd of players, only for Matt Hocking to divert the ball out for a corner.

The deadlock was finally broken on 78 minutes as Paul Barratt’sleft wing corner fell in the centre of the penalty box where Neil Robinson headed the ball down, bouncing back into the top of the net, much to the jubilation of the Haig Avenue crowd. Mark Houghton created a good chance for himself as he turned two defenders in the Barrow box, with his resulting shot just going wide.

Just as it looked as though Southport were going to hold on to claim all three points, in the third minute of stoppage time Matt Henney popped up to slot the ball home from close range to leave both sides sharing the points, and Southport reduced down to ten men as Kevin Lee received his second yelllow card for protesting to the officials as he claimed a foul had been committed on Whiteside as the equaliser went in.