Since promotion from the Nationwide North in April, officials at Haig Avenue have consistently maintained their club lies on the threshold of a new era. And at 8.49 pm it arrived. Verification that this Southport side has less drive than any of its predecessors.

As rain drops began to descend on the Lancashire coast, so came the 645th minute of play since the Sandgrounders last scored – through Kevin Leadbetter on November 5, in a first round FA Cup tie against Woking. Hardy supporters will tell you they’ve travelled over 1700 miles without seeing their beloved side hit the back of the net and in the rightful words of Sir Bobby Robson: ‘If you don't score you are not going to win a match.’

While Southport performed admirably in patches, the club’s eighty-four year record never stood much chance of surviving. Despite possessing a sizable contingent who have previously filled offensive roles, the hosts retained a reluctance to attack and were continually feeble in the final third, while their midfield quartet which comprised of Chris Brass and Carl Baker as a surprise central pairing was both unproductive and tame.

Baker, making his first start in five matches, scarcely influenced proceedings and although his sixth minute header was turned aside by a smart stop from goalkeeper Legzdins, was a virtual anonymity. Brass is yet to prove himself worthy of a regular starting spot and was regularly overrun by the impressive Martin Foster, while skipper Steve Pickford created little down the left flank.

In all honesty, Halifax were there for the taking and opponents exuding more confidence, with an added dynamism and extra potency would have comfortably progressed to meet Hereford United in the second round. Town’s poor away form has produced just four wins on the road this season - two of which have come at Haig Avenue - and the Shaymen were far from the forceful proposition their fifth-place standing in the Nationwide Conference suggests. Mediocre at best and largely sporadic, they showed full-time hopefuls Southport how training professionally does not automatically produce an ability to perform coherently.

The Sandgrounders’ weaknesses in front of goal were highlighted blatantly on two instances during the second period. Following persistent probing shortly after the hour, Kevin Leadbetter’s deflected pass escaped to Neil Robinson six yards from goal, only for an awful first touch to extinguish the inviting opportunity for a shot at Legzdins.

And on eighty-five minutes, more poor control from Steve Daly allowed defender Quinn to recover after being played through by Pickford, before placing a pass behind the forward run of Robinson despite engineering time to set himself. Credit, though, must go to frontman Nick Rogan who battled tirelessly for the seventy minutes prior to his substitution and added a refreshing spark to the Sandgrounders’ frontline which was otherwise lethargic. Although the efforts of Rogan, effervescent and keen to close defenders down, were unrewarded, the former Morecambe striker was handed an appreciative ovation when leaving the field surprisingly prematurely.

For the vast majority of this contest, Steve Dickinson kept the miserly 589-strong crowd in the hope that tonight would see Southport would record their first victory in nine attempts. But despite thwarting Halifax on several occasions, including four saves of the highest quality, the Sandgrounders' ever-dependable goalkeeper was again let down by the bulk of those in front of him.

On eleven minutes Dickinson was at full stretch to instinctively finger-tip Quinn’s close-range header over the bar after the Town defender rose unmarked from a corner. Shortly afterwards, the 'Port stopper was down instantly to somehow smother at the feet of striker Lewis Killeen who seemed certain to score once freeing himself of the home rearguard with a well-timed run.

After denying Senior with two near post stops either side of the interval, Dickinson executed a fine test of his reflexes by denying Killeen for a second time, whose fierce sliding shot resulted from Prendergast’s smart left-wing cross. And once the hosts Sandgrounders had fallen behind, their goalkeeper ensured they remained in contention until the final whistle, by again granting former Sheffield United frontman Killeen no favours – this time producing heroics with his feet.

Don’t let the thirty-nine league goals conceded so far by Southport undermine the vast contribution of Dickinson this season. By far his side’s most consistent performer, the Sandgrounders would undeniably be in danger of breaking more unwanted records if it was not for their long-standing number one.

But there was nothing the former Bradford City apprentice stopper could do about Halifax’s winning goal which arrived with ten minutes remaining. Winger Rory Prendergast bypassed inauspicious full-back Lane with ease, before delivering a teasing centre, from which Danny Forrest converted with the aid of an unfortunate deflection off the otherwise steady Mark Roberts.

Following another sterile outing, the Sandgrounders’ current record stands at 686 minutes without finding the net. How they’d love to break their duck against coastal rivals Morecambe on Boxing Day - but the side with a scrooge-like defence are unlikely to grant many belated Christmas gifts.

Southport.gb.com Match Facts:

Southport: (4-4-2) 1. Steve Dickinson, 19. Chris Lane, 6. Earl Davis, 25. Mark Roberts, 4. Neil Fitzhenry, 7. Kevin Leadbetter, 27. Chris Brass, 5. Carl Baker (10. Dominic Morley ’85), 2. Steve Pickford, 9. Nick Rogan (11. Steve Daly ’72), 8. Neil Robinson.
Unused Substitutes: 15. Jamie Speare, 16. Michael Powell, 20. Matthew McGinn.

Referee: S. Cummins

Attendance: 589

Southport.gb.com Southport Man of the Match: 1. Steve Dickinson