The most consistent and predictable element of Southport’s season remains their inconsistency and unpredictability.

With the Nationwide Conference season progressing at pace, the Sandgrounders’ current plight - the result of a sporadic run of form that is now a genuine cause for concern - acquired further misery on Tuesday evening.

Horribly unhinged during a woefully abject first-half showing, Southport were ripped apart with an alarming ease by a competent yet unspectacular Northwich Victoria side.

Struggling to function with cohesion or purpose, the Sandgrounders have now shipped thirteen goals in their last six outings and while they threatened a recovery, Paul Cook’s side were unable to repair the damage.

With fixtures against Exeter City, leaders Oxford United and Stevenage Borough all imminent, Southport know they must become significantly smarter, because a re-run of this display when playing a more sophisticated outfit has the potential of producing devastating consequences.

Scoring through the influential Michael Carr at the start of each half, Northwich should have accrued an unassailable advantage before the hosts decided to respond, but they nonetheless held on for a victory that sees them climb into the top half.

After Paul Bryson had shot wide, Carr bagged the Vics’ first on twelve minutes when the persistence and penetrative pass of Jonny Allan released the forceful midfield player, who swept a composed shot beyond goalkeeper Ryan Robinson from inside the area.

Carr was a powerful presence breaking from the centre of the field and later fired over having received an incisive ball from Michael Byrne, before reversing roles for the left-winger to be denied by defender Michael Powell.

The Sandgrounders’ most meaningful attempt of a sorry display fell to Lee Hoolickin, who retrieved possession from Danny Mayman and proceeded to test ‘keeper Phil Senior with a stinging drive, while Alex Smith and Mark Boyd both registered efforts of little substance.

Northwich were prevented from adding second prior to the interval when Allan turned defender Paul Martin only to be denied by Robinson’s legs, before Mayman and Stuart Elliot both placed efforts off target.

But after Byrne had also been thwarted, the Vics furthered their tally in the 51st minute, as Allan supplied the enticing right-wing centre that allowed Carr to mop up with another controlled finish.

Having seen their defence ripped to ribbons, Southport did manage to mount a respectable response - but while Liam Blakeman headed Alex Smith’s looping cross into the grasp of keeper Senior and Dino Maamria hit the post from 10-yards, the visitors remained a danger. Carr freed Allan, who was denied by an alert save from Robinson.

The hard-working Joe Fowler halved the arrears on 56 minutes with a low shot from the right side of the penalty area that squirmed across the face ‘keeper Senior. Gray then shot over, Kieran Charnock produced a flying challenge to halt Maamria and Smith was denied from close range.

As the hosts piled forward, a hopeless miss of the target from the penalty spot by Bryson ensured Southport retained hopes of a reprieve after Byrne forced Hoolickin to handle.

A fizzing Blakeman drive was caught by Senior, who also denied Maamria and after Martin had headed over, the Sandgrounders came within inches of drawing level when Awen Douglas spectacularly sent the woodwork rattling from 35-yards in the 88th minute.

Southport.gb.com Match Facts:

Southport: (4-4-2) 1. Ryan Robinson, 15. Stephen Rowland, 16. Paul Martin, 4. Michael Powell, 3. Lee Hoolickin, 8. Liam Blakeman, 6. Mark Boyd (11. James Olsen ’72), 19. Joe Fowler (22. Awen Douglas ’77), 17. Alex Smith, 10. Dino Maamria, 9. Tony Gray (7. Carl Baker ’72).
Unused Substitutes: 12. John Bagnall, 2. Chris Lane.

Referee: D. Richardson

Attendance: 1,059

Southport.gb.com Southport Man of the Match: 19. Joe Fowler

Final Score: Southport 1, Northwich Victoria 2
Possession: Southport 51%, Northwich Victoria 49%
Shots on Target: Southport 7, Northwich Victoria 6
Shots off Target: Southport 10, Northwich Victoria 10
Corners: Southport 6, Northwich Victoria 4
Fouls Committed: Southport 17, Northwich Victoria 10
Bookings: Southport 4, Northwich Victoria 1
Sent-Off: Southport 0, Northwich Victoria 0