Southport 0-1 Boston United

The Pilgrims returned from Merseyside with all three points in the bag following Thewlis' 14th minute strike which squirmed through the grasp of home keeper Dan Hanford.

Southport hit the crossbar through Marcus Carver at 0-0, but Ross Fitzsimons was not forced into a meaningful save as the Pilgrims' experienced rearguard kept the Sandgrounders at bay.

The match could have turned out differently had the hosts taken the lead in the 10th minute, when Carver rolled away from the challenge of Luke Shiels to crack the crossbar from 12 yards.

United took the lead four minutes later when THEWLIS sailed an effort at goal which crept past Hanford at his near post for his third league goal of the campaign to date.

Southport went close to an equaliser when Niall Watson met David Morgan’s deep corner to the back post, but his header flew wide.

Andi Thanoj, back in the United XI, curled a free-kick narrowly wide towards the end of the first half.

There were further chances for the Pilgrims after the break, with Thanoj sweeping an effort wide following a rapid Terry Hawkridge break and Hanford performing heroics to keep out Jordan Burrow’s volley from a Paul Green cross.

Southport (3-5-2): Dan Hanford; Dean Winnard (Dylan Vassallo 63), Charlie Oliver (Adam Anson 90), Mo Ali; Matt Challoner, Jack Bainbridge, David Morgan, Russell Benjamin, Jack Doyle; Marcus Carver, Niall Watson. Subs (not used): Connor Woods, Tony McMillan (gk).

Boston (4-3-3): Ross Fitzsimons; Matt Tootle, Luke Shiels, Scott Garner, Scott Duxbury; Paul Green, Tom Platt, Andi Thanoj; Jordan Thewlis (Fraser Preston 80), Jordan Burrow, Terry Hawkridge. Subs (not used): Tyrell Warren, Connor Dimaio, Jordan Archer, Peter Crook (gk).

Referee: Matt Corlett.

Attendance: Behind-Closed-Doors.

Photography: Julia Urwin.