United left it late to preserve their unbeaten record tonight, with two Rob Duffy penalties earning them a 2-2 draw at home to Southport

With no fresh injury worries or suspensions, United boss Jim Smith named an unchanged side but United got an almighty shock just two minutes into the game when the visitors took a surprise early lead.The away side pressed, won a corner and Dino Maamria rose at the near post and headed home Alex Smith's corner.

It was as a blow, but at the least the goal had come early enough for United to hit back.

At this early stage of the match, with the visitors playing much better than their league position suggested, United were playing long balls forward and hoping to win the second ball off of Steve Basham and Rob Duffy.

The visitors were also man-marking Andy Burgess, and as a result he was finding it difficult to get the ball at his feet and coupled with the fact that Southport were packing midfield, United were having problems making any impression.Patience was definitely the key.

Duffy was the first to try to unlock the away side in the 31^st minute when he saw a twenty-five yard shot fly just over the bar and then just five minutes later Eddie Hutchinson was just inches away from connecting with Duffy's cross.

The pressure was building and the visitors were now happy to sit back, play one up front and try to defend their lead.They had a mighty let off in the 40^th minute when Rufus Brevett burst into the box and appeared to be tugged down in the box, but referee Cook adjudged that the foul was committed outside the box.

It was now all United and in the minutes before the break, Basham saw a header fly just wide and then Eddie Anaclet shot straight at Ryan Robinson after a trademark mazy run.

You did get the feeling though that if the away side continued to play the same way in the second half, United would get the opportunities to turn the match round.

There was a change at half time with The U'[s going to 4-4-2 with Quinn at full back and Anaclet and Burgess on the wings, and the change started to pay dividends straight away. Burgess went close with two free kicks, and then on 53 minutes came the breakthrough as Anaclet weaved his way into the area. Two defenders waved legs at him but Kirkup was sterner and upended him, and ref Cook pointed to the spot. United had missed the last two spot kicks but Rob Duffy's kick was never in doubt as he hammered it past Robinson to score his seventh of the season.

Southport had been defending for their lives anyway, and were now up against it, but were resilient and determined and making life very difficult. The home crowd were on their feet and doing all they could to sing their team home, but when the next goal came it was at the wrong end once more.

Again it came from a set piece, this time to the far post. Carl Baker headed back and Maamria looped a short range header into the unguarded net. A sloppy goal to concede and the second goal from the second effort on target for the visitors, but on determination alone deserved.

Could United claw it back in the last fifteen minutes? Of coiurse they could!

Powell had never left Burgess's side for a moment, but was lucky to stay on the pitch on 85 minutes as he went through the back of Burgess, with Duffy booked in the melee that followed, and it was siege time in the Southport area as United fought for all they were worth to keep their proud record intact.

They left it late though as Yemi Odubade raced away in the last minute and drew a challenge from Rowland. Ref Cokk was undecided, but linesman Saliy had seen enough and flagged, and United had a lifeline. There was a long delay before the kick was taken, and nerves aplenty, but Duffy isn't affected by things like that and confidently thumped the ball home to send the home fans mad.

Not the result expected, but certainly one United would have settled for after 88 minutes...

Report Julian Hitchman, Chris Williams. Pictures Steve Daniels