Alfreton Town were saddled with a tough midweek replay at Southport after allowing their Merseyside opponents to draw level in stoppage time at the Impact Arena on Saturday, just as they had done in the league game back in August.
Manager Nicky Law rang the changes after the previous week's disappointing defeat at Blyth Spartans with Craig Dootson, Andy Todd, Dominic Roma and Jordan Hall all finding themselves on the bench.
The Reds threatened in the opening stages with Liam Hearn being sent clear by strike partner Paul Clayton in the third minute, but Southport captain Adam Flynn charged down Hearn's angled drive, then two minutes later Clayton found the side-netting from Anton Brown's lay-off.
A superb by-line cross from Mark Dudley just evaded Clayton as it flashed through the six-yard box in the 11th minute, then four minutes after that Anthony Howell's glancing header from an Ian Ross corner was not far off target.
Clayton was somewhat unlucky to concede a free-kick on the edge of the Alfreton area in the 18th minute when the ball dropped on his arm as he did a spot of defending, but the wall did its job as Ciaran Kilheeney fired at goal - from the ensuing corner though home keeper Paddy Gamble had to quickly bend low to turn aside a confident back-heel from Rob Marsh-Evans.
Another free-kick in the 20th minute produced the opening goal of the tie after Lever's hard, low drive was not held by Gamble and the attentive Michael Powell swept the loose ball in from close range.
A well-worked interchange between Clayton and Hearn eight minutes later led to the latter firing at goal from around ten yards, but Southport keeper Tony McMillan managed to turn it behind for a corner.
Josh Law then skipped along the by-line before taking a return pass from Hearn on 33 minutes, only to see his shot blocked on the line by McMillan,but Alfreton were back on level terms by the 40th minute.
Hearn's cross from the right was met by Howell's shot that Powell partially scooped off the line, but the clearance was directed only as far as Clayton who thumped it home from almost on the line.
There was a huge penalty appeal as Clayton was sent sprawling by Lever within two minutes of the re-start, then on 51 minutes Ross latched on to a Kyle McFadzean through-ball but curled the ball beyond the far post from 20 yards.
Another effort from Ross on 68 minutes almost lured Matt McGinn into heading past his own keeper, but McMillan read the danger and pulled off a competent save, then three minutes later at the other end, Gamble stood firm to repel a powerful Steve Daly header from a McGinn corner. 
Alfreton were ahead for the first time in the 74th minute when Howell neatly played Hearn through with a defence-splitting pass and the Reds' leading scorer obliged from a diminishing angle after going round McMillan and clipping a shot into the far corner despite appearing to be off balance.
The tie looked to have been settled seven minutes later when Southport's defence was carved open again, this time by Brown who set up Hearn for a shot that bobbled against the inside base of the far post, only to rebound into the keeper's arms.
Well into the last ten minutes the visitors appeared to be flagging, but they suddenly burst into life with a spell of intense pressure that needed a string of saves from Gamble, beginning with an 88th minute parry from Ashley Winn's strong drive.
Sixty seconds later Daly's shot was turned behind by Gamble, then shortly after that the Reds' keeper blocked from Winn at point-blank range, but no-one could prevent Powell from steering home he fifth Southport corner in rapid succession at the back post in the second of four added minutes to ensure the sides have to do it all again.