SOUTHPORT manager Liam Watson was left fuming after this Blue Square North encounter – despite his side knocking five past Gainsborough Trinity.

After registering a three-goal lead by the 15th minute, Port contrived to nearly gift the game to the Lincolnshire side before two late goals secured the points.

Trinity, led by former Huddersfield striker Luke Beckett, showed tremendous character to tie the match at 3-3 before tiring. Watson accused his players of being "lacksadaisical" and told many of his first team stars to expect punishment by starting in tomorrow’s county cup tie at Rossendale.

Home debutant Ashley Winn put Southport ahead after 58 seconds when Jameson failed to convincingly clear McGinn’s corner. Then Ciaran Kilheeney struck in the fourth minute with a tap in from another corner.

Captain Alan Moogan grabbed a third in the 15th minute when he met Duffy’s inviting cross from 10 yards out and the three points looked assured.

Gainsborough, however, had other ideas and after a rasping shot from Hall cannoned back off the post, Beckett pulled one back, slotting in from a corner among a gaggle of players.

Ian Ross made it 3-2 moments later from a quickly taken free-kick that left Port furious. McMillan was arranging his wall on the near post while the Trinity playmaker curled the ball to the opposite side.

After the break Gainsborough continued to rally and equalised when Bobby Wilson stabbed home after McMahon had headed a corner against the crossbar.

With Southport stunned and Beckett culpable of squandering a glorious one-on-one, Watson rung the changes and switched to an attacking 4-3-3 formation that duly paid off in the 73rd minute.

Kevin Lee rose to head in off the bar from a Duffy corner before Ashley Winn secured the victory with six minutes to spare by lofting the ball over Jameson after neat work from Kilheeney.