SOUTHPORT picked up the three points but they could have made it a lot easier for themselves if they had taken several gilt-edged second half chances.

Nerves were always on edge with Southport only one up as the clock ticked into stoppage time. Terry Fearns netted midway through the first half --his 21st goal of the season.

That set Southport up and they never looked back. But it was in the final minute of stoppage time that substitute Kevin Leadbetter made it two, but that should have happened long before.

A limited Runcorn side had two long range first half efforts from Danny Byrne in the 38th minute and Tom Spearitt in the 43rd which an agile Steve Dickinson held onto confidently but as the second half progressed it became apparent Southport had total control and Alvin McDonald's side had nothing of note in the final third to offer.

Centre backs Farrell Kilbane and Earl Davis were again in imposing form and the Port midfield ran the night.

Terry Fearns, the predatory Port striker was gifted his goal when Linnets keeper Tony McMillan was non plussed by Neil Robinson's overhead kick from an Alex Mortimer left wing cross.

McMillan was wrong-footed and from under his crossbar could only palm the ball onto the cross bar. The ball dropped vertically enabling Fearns to pounce from a yard.

Runcorn's only real threat came from a series of left wing raids by the dangerous ex-Southport reserve Steve Bleas-dale and Matt McGinn.

Liam Watson tactically adjusted at half-time blocking McGinn's route by bringing on Carl Baker into the right hand side of midfield and reverting Steve Pickford to right back with Jimmy Williams replaced.

Neil Robinson was an earlier 40th minute withdrawal after Watson decided it was better to pull the Port striker off before he got sent off following a continuing feud with Runcorn right back Jimmy Turner that had seen Robinson yellow carded for a challenge on Turner in the 32nd minute.

The second half was a very one-sided affair and the Port's lack of clinical finishing let the Linnets off a heavy defeat. Fearns on the right attempted an ambitious 62nd minute lob that went wide with just Tony McMillan to beat following an excellent crossfield Kevin Lead-better left to right through ball.

Steve Daly was denied by a diving McMillan 66th minute block when Steve Pickford's central through ball cut through the Linnets defence.

On 72 minutes it really was comic capers as Daly became Runcorn's best defender. He sprinted forward holding off John Robertson, Daly played the ball out to Leadbetter in space. Leadbetter cut inside rounded the advancing McMillan and unleashed a certain goal bound shot but the ball smashed off Daly ' s back and Runcorn were reprieved. On 76 minutes another potential Fearns goal was denied when again Daly got in the way in a packed goal mouth. Seconds later Steve Daly rose high unmarked from seven yards but headed wide from a right wing Kevin Leadbetter centre.

Fortunately those misses on the night didn't matter as Runcorn's only real threat came three minutes from time when a Matt McGinn long left flank throw bobbled in the box and just evaded a stretching Nicky Young eight yards out.

In the third and last minute of stoppage time Kevin Leadbetter added a touch of realism to the 90 minutes finishing firmly centrally after good work from Steve Daly and Terry Fearns.

SOUTHPORT: Dickinson. Williams(sub Baker 46) Mortimer. Kilbane. Davis. Morley. Lynch. Daly. Fearns. Robinson (sub Leadbetter 40) Pickford. Subs not used: Lowe. Lancaster. Price.

RUNCORN: McMillan. Turner (sub Brown 65) McGinn. Spearitt. Robertson. Ness. Garrity(sub Lally

79) Field. Young. Byrne. Courtney(sub Rendell 57) Subs not used: Lock. Timms.

. Southport Visiter/Rewardaward man of the match: Earl Davis