AFC Telford United 1-0 Southport

Andy Brown's match-winning goal knocked Southport off the top of the Blue Square North

A second-half strike from Andy Brown saw Telford to a vital win over title rivals Southport at the Bucks Head.

Brown headed home Lee Moore's left-wing cross to grab all three points.

Telford's win, watched by a big 3,558 crowd, moved the Bucks up to third in Blue Square North as they stretched their unbeaten league run to 10 games.

Telford boss Rob Smith told BBC Radio Shropshire: "It was a great tactical battle between two sides who will be there at the end of the season."

The only goal of the game came on 74 minutes when Moore broke away down the left before crossing for Brown to nod in only the third away league goal the Sandgrounders have conceded this season.

Southport's first away defeat also helped Smith's Bucks to move within three points of top spot.

And it ended a great week for Smith's side, having also accounted for Blue Square Premier leaders Burton Albion in the Setanta Shield on Tuesday night.

What is more, the highly encouraging crowd was the highest non-league gate in England this weekend.

Comfortably the largest of the campaign at the Bucks Head, it was almost double Telford's previous average attendance this season of 1820.