A last-minute free-kick by substitute Steve Whitehall gave Southport a dramatic opening-day home victory over Nuneaton.

The visitors' resistance finally snapped after Chris MacKenzie was dismissed for deliberate handball.

Whitehall replaced Peter Thompson after 81 minutes and his left-foot winner was no more than the home side deserved for a rousing second-half display.

A tense first half was short on goalmouth action with a congested midfield content to scrap it out.

Nuneaton's Gary Jones was denied early on by the Southport offside trap as the visitors struggled to pierce a well-marshalled defence.

Jones was then upended by Southport defender Mark Winstanley, whose indiscretion went unpunished when Andy Thackeray squandered the resulting free-kick.

Midfielder Barry Williams was at the heart of most of the visitors' attacking play but earned a caution for an ugly lunge on Chris Lane.

Nuneaton's Ian Clarkson then pushed the tempo with a brisk run and shot which flew over the crossbar.

The game became stretched as both sides tired and Steve Jones missed an inviting header from six yards after Winstanley's pinpoint cross.

Welsby repelled long-range efforts from Ian Clarkson and Mark Quayle before Whitehall's late clincher.

Southport: Welsby, Lane, Barry Jones, Clark, Winstanley, Howell, Gibson, Steve Jones, Scott, Lloyd-Williams, Thomson. Subs: Whitehall, Bauress, Robertson, James Connolly, Blakeman.

Nuneaton: MacKenzie, Thackeray, Howey, Angus, Clarkson, Turner, Squires, Peake, Williams, Quayle, Jones. Subs: Hodgson, Lavery, Harris, McGregor, Peyton.

Referee: A Marriner (Coventry).