SOUTHPORT had to dig deep to overcome a bullish Redditch United side to stay top of the Blue Square North.

In glorious Worcestershire weather, Port persevered to snatch a two-goal win that left the hosts dejected.

The Reds matched Liam Watson’s league leaders and could have taken the lead after just 13 minutes when Owen Storey flashed a shot from the edge of the box that McMillan did well to parry wide.

Southport gradually imposed themselves and whilst attacking moves were infrequent, a moment of magic from Mark Duffy put the visitors ahead.

Redditch rallied but the hammer blow was to come 12 minutes after the interval.

As the hosts pressed for an equaliser a long clearance from Connolly set Ciaran Kilheeney free down the right, the striker finding space to fire low across Lewis.

Southport had a third goal ruled out when Kevin Lee’s far post header was adjudged to be offside.

SOUTHPORT: McMillan, Lee, Lever, Flynn, Connolly, Dolan (Powell, 77), Duffy (Booth, 81, Moogan, Daly (T Gray, 71), Kilheeney, McGinn. Subs: S Gray, Davis.

REDDITCH: Lewis, Deakin (Softley, 78), Edwards, Ayres, Daly, Murray, Forington (Rickards, 56), Downes, Verma, Story, Heggs. Subs: Johnson, Bullimore, Blake.

ATTENDANCE: 391. REF: J Sheffield (Walsall)