THERE will be no FA Cup glory for Alfreton Town this season after being edged out of Tuesday night's third qualifying round replay at Southport in frustrating circumstances.
 Over the years, Haig Avenue has been a difficult place for the Reds to emerge from with any credit, only recording their first win there 13 months ago in a Blue Square North game thanks to a solitary goal from Leo Fortune-West.
 On this occasion, the hosts went about their business in a positive fashion, taking a 29th minute lead through Matty McGinn's powerfully struck free-kick from 25 yards after Kyle McFadzean had been adjudged to have impeded Chris Simm.
 Alfreton equalised seven minutes after the break when Ian Ross was brought down by Chris Lever and referee Wootton pointed to the spot.
 While Southport protested about the decision, defender Rob Marsh-Evans controversially did his utmost to damage the penalty spot, which Anthony Howell took several seconds to flatten out before sending keeper Tony McMillan the wrong way.
The Reds held out until 11 minutes from time when the most debatable of the three key decisions made by the referee effectively killed off the tie.
 Again McFadzean was deemed to be the perpetrator, but there was not the slightest hint of an appeal from home supporters or players as Ciaran Kilheeney staggered, then fell, after a challenge with the Alfreton skipper and a penalty was awarded.
 Kilheeney hammered the spot-kick straight down the middle and with Paddy Gamble opting to dive to his right there was no chance of the keeper stopping it.
  A Matt Wilson throw-in after five minutes led to an Ian Ross drive easily being blocked by Lever, then six minutes later a glancing header from Paul Clayton drifted wide from a deep Mark Dudley cross.
 A dangerous cross from McGinn in the 13th minute needed the combined efforts of Aden Flint and Wilson to clear the danger, then three minutes after the Sandgrounders had taken the lead Liam Hearn's shot was blocked from a Ross delivery.
 Simm then squandered a great chance for Southport after waltzing unchecked into the area in the 38th minute only to fire palpably wide, then three minutes before the interval a long-range dipper from Dudley had to be tipped over the bar by McMillan.
 A frantic start to the second half saw McFadzean concede a corner from McGinn's driven cross, which triggered a lengthy goalmouth scramble in which just about every player in the six-yard box played a part with Alfreton surviving.
 Two minutes after Howell's leveller, Simm embarked on a run that Reds' keeper Gamble managed to stifle as the striker attempted to take the ball around him, then back at the other end moments later Earl Davis almost sliced into his own net from Dudley's awkward cross.
 Another penetrating run from Simm on 61 minutes saw Flint's attempted clearance neatly tee up Steve Daly, who promptly smashed the ball against the upright, then ten minutes later Gamble had to block another Simm shot with his legs.
 Flint directed a towering header just wide from a 72nd minute Ross free-kick, then four minutes later Clayton dwelt on Anton Brown's pass for a second too long, allowing Davis to stick out a leg and block the eventual drive.
 Alfreton threw everything at Southport in the final minutes, but were unable to create a clear opportunity, and it is the Merseysiders who now travel to Gateshead on October 24 while the Reds are likely to have a blank Saturday.

Southport: Tony McMillan, Chris Lever, Rob Marsh-Evans, Adam Flynn, Earl Davis, Alan Moogan, Ashley Winn, Michael Powell, Steve Daly (Ciaran Kilheeny 69), Chris Simm (Zac Aley 82), Matt McGinn.
Substitutes not used: Damien Eastham, Bradley Barnes, Paul Barratt,  John Bathurst, Shaun Holden.
Alfreton Town: Paddy Gamble, Matt Wilson, Mark Dudley (Andy Todd 80), Aden Flint, Kyle McFadzean, Ian Ross, Josh Law (Jordan Hall 70), Anton Brown, Paul Clayton, Liam Hearn (Damian Reeves 86), Anthony Howell.
Substitutes not used: Mattie Burke, Dominic Roma, Richard Pell, Craig Dootson.
Referee: R Wootton of Wakefield.
Attendance: 553.
Goals: Alfreton Town - Anthony Howell (62, penalty). Southport - Matt McGinn (29), Ciaran Kilheeny (79, penalty).
Bookings: Southport - Ashley Winn (47, foul on Josh Law); Alan Moogan (72, foul on Jordan Hall); Michael Powell (90, unsporting conduct); Matt McGinn (90+3, foul on Jordan Hall). Alfreton Town - Mark Dudley (56, foul on Chris Simm).
Reds man of the match: Ian Ross.