Southport really caught their guests napping as two quick goals gave them a dream start to the game. The first goal came with only 58 seconds on the clock as a Matty McGinn corner from the right was only pushed out by Aaron Jameson into the path of Ashley Winn, who took the ball beyond his marker before blasting the ball home from just inside the Trinity box.
Matty McGinn had two successive chances only just thwarted as he found himself in space with his first chance going narrowly wide, and moments later being denied by Jameson.
But it wasn’t long until the second goal came as another corner out on the right cleared everyone in the box to invitingly go to Ciaran Kilheeney who was free at the back post to tap the ball into the empty net.
Gainsborough’s only chance of replying came from an Ian Ross corner which fell in front of Luke Beckett who was unable to connect with the ball as Southport cleared their lines. But it was Southport who extended their when Mark Duffy darted down the right wing, getting the ball across with Jameson half clearing, only for Alan Moogan to close down and bury the ball home.
Southport did need to stay on their guard as Trinity looked desperate to pull themselves back into the game, and were nearly rewarded a few minutes later as a long range low shot from Chris Hall slammed against the post.
Gainsborough slowly got themselves back into the game, and pulled a goal back after a few corners as McMillan was unsighted in the crowded box, as the ball arrived to Luke Beckett who slotted the ball home from very close range.
Southport were guilty of losing concentration themselves as Trinity were awarded a free-kick right on the edge of the box, and as McMillan tried to sort out his wall, the free-kick was taken early as Ian Ross fired through the wall with McMillan stuck on his left hand post.
Trinity pulled level within three minutes of the second half as another set-piece caused problems to the Port defence as the ball went to Lewis McMahon and crashed against the cross-bar coming back out to Bobby Wilson who blasted the ball home through the crowded area into the back of the net.
Southport needed to lift themselves, and a moment of inspiration from Mark Duffy nearly gave it to the home side, with a good run down the right wing, getting the ball to Daly, who met the ball with his out-stretched leg, only for Jameson to close down the angle clearing the ball away.
The game was finely poised, with Beckett beating the off-side trap on the hour, but he pulled his shot wide across the target. But it was Southport who re-gained the lead as a corner from Duffy went through to the busy area, with the ball coming off the cross bar, allowing Daly to bury the ball home from close range. Five minutes before time, Southport regained a cushion as Ashley Winn worked the ball into the net, clipping the ball over Jameson.-