Southport earn FA Cup replay after hitting back against Tranmere

Southport earned themselves a place in the FA Cup third round draw after holding Merseyside neighbours Tranmere to a 1-1 draw at Prenton Park.

Tranmere lost Dylan Mottley-Henry to injury early on but that did not throw Micky Mellon’s side off their stride.

With 17 minutes gone substitute Johnny Smith completed a well-worked move to curl left-footed from the right side of the penalty area into the top left corner past visiting keeper Dan Hanford.

Connor Jennings should have scored a second for the League Two outfit but he crashed the side netting with his effort.

Southport levelled with 70 minutes played through Bradley Bauress who drove a left-footed shot beyond Rovers goalkeeper Scott Davies into the top corner from 30 yards.

Liam Watson’s National League North side almost went in front when Jack Sampson’s header from a corner from the right was cleared off the line by Liam Ridehalgh.

Hanford was forced to push Smith’s shot over the crossbar in injury time as Southport held on to earn a replay at Haig Avenue.