Southport enjoyed a barrage on the Curzon Ashton goal on Tuesday night but failed to find the breakthrough in a one-sided affair.
An action-packed goalless draw saw a number of Port penalties turned down as well as the post being rattled in the opening minutes.
Jordan Archer found himself in acres of space, almost to his surprise, one-on-one with goalkeeper Chris Renshaw and the goal at his mercy fired towards the shot-stopper’s top-right corner only to be denied by the woodwork.
That attack set the tone for the first-half and for large parts of the second quarter as the Nash had to withstand a relentless barrage of Old Gold.
Tyler Walton, who made his loan switch permanent prior to Saturday’s draw with Boston United, had opportunities to put Liam Watson’s side in front.
A tactical tweak from the hosts boss saw Connor Woods and Walton swap sides with the former moving to the right.
Immediately, the former Farsley Celtic-man was involved as he hooked Jack Bainbridge through on goal but one-on-one with the ‘keeper on his weaker foot dragged it wide of the target.
Midway through the first 45, on-loan defender, Connor Teale had Renshaw to thank for showcasing brilliant reflexes to divert his touch away from the goalkeeper’s bottom corner after Charlie Munro’s teasing cross.
In the next stage of play, a speculative effort from Sandgrounder’s captain Adam Anson deflected goalward, wrong-footing the 24-year-old between the sticks but managed to smother the loose ball.
POST MATCH REACTION: ‘100 per cent thrown two points away’ – Southport manager Liam Watson offers thoughts on Curzon Ashton stalemate
Adam Lakeland’s side were looking for the interval but were forced to weather Southport’s attacks. Walton then tried to be slightly too cute with his effort as he looked to caress it into the top corner.
Debutant Declan Evans, who was announced as a Southport player before being loaned back to Mossley after the Tuesday clash, came close but saw his header loop onto the roof of the net.
Following the onslaught from the play-off contenders, Curzon tightened up their defence and added further frustration on the Yellows.
They were dealt a blow as Jordan Archer trudged off with a suspected hamstring injury which allowed for the returning George Newell to enter the fray – fresh off a two-month loan with Marine.
Walton was in the thick of it again when Port’s next chance came, his fizzing in-swinger was met by the substitute Newell only for Renshaw to tip onto the bar and behind for another corner.
Watson was left irate moments late as the 23-year-old Walton danced through defenders and was seemingly tripped on his way through.
Woods then saw his appeals rejected by referee Dane McCarrick after the Skelmersdale-born attacker showcased fancy feet to manoeuvre a way through four visiting defenders before going to ground.
However, the last chance of the clash fell to the Nash as they nearly stole it at the death when Andy Flowers rose highest from a corner kick only for Cameron Mason to spring into rare action.
With another point on the board, Watson’s side
Match Info
Southport 0-0 Curzon Ashton
Scorers: N/A.
Bookings: N/A.
HT/FT Score: 0-0/0-0.
Off The Park Player of the Match: Declan Evans (Southport, centre-back)
