SOUTHPORT’S excellent form in the Blue Square League’s Premier Division continued on Saturday when they emerged with all three points after a thrilling five-goal encounter at Kettering.

Simon Grand headed home a Shaun Whalley corner on 18 minutes to give the Sandgrounders the lead. And just six minutes later the advantage was doubled when Tony Gray netted a penalty awarded for a foul on Whalley by Kettering’s Moses Swaibu.

The home side got themselves back into the match just before the hour mark when Kiernan Hughes-Mason chipped in, and they restored parity on 78 minutes through a close-range finish from Moses Ashikodi.

But Liam Watson’s team grabbed their seventh away win of the campaign when Gray fired home a 25-yard free-kick two minutes from time.

Southport are fifth in the division and are now only five points behind leaders Wrexham.

In the Blue Square League’s First Division, Vauxhall Motors were out of luck on their visit to Corby.

Home skipper Phil Gulliver’s goal nine minutes into the match was the only difference between the sides. The Motormen remain on 14 points from 16 matches played in the division and are dangerously close to the relegation zone.

The two local sides left in the FA Trophy, Chester FC and Marine, both safely negotiated their tricky second qualifying round games with excellent home victories.

A Matty McGinn penalty just before the interval gave Chester FC an important advantage to take into the second-half of their cup-tie against Stafford Rangers.

And Robbie Booth’s goal four minutes into the second period ensured the home side’s progress in the competition.

Marine didn’t have it quite so easy against Chasetown but they nevertheless went through after playing their part in a 5-2 win at the Arriva Stadium.

In a clash involving two of our local teams, it finished 1-1 in the North West Counties League’s Premier Division encounter between Runcorn Town and Bootle.

Elsewhere in the division, St Helens Town went down 3-2 against Alsager Town.