MICHAEL Carr bagged a brace as Vics made their fans suffer at Southport.

They should have been out of sight at half time, but had to rely on resolute defending as the Sandgrounders piled on the pressure late on.

There is no doubt the best team won though.

Steve Burr's side produced easily their best 45 minutes of football of the season so far before the break, with only worringly wasteful finishing stopping them routing shellshocked Southport.

They should have been in front inside five minutes.

Danny Mayman fed Jonny Allan, who in turn teed up Paul Brayson on the edge of the box but, with only keeper Ryan Robinson to beat, he scuffed a weak shot wide.

Three minutes later Mayman swapped passes with Richard Battersby before flighting a cross into the box that Carr was inches away from connecting with.

Vics' pressure paid off when Carr netted his first of the season in the 13th minute.

Allan spun too easily past Michael Powell from Battersby's throw and his perfectly weighted pass sent Carr clear.

The midfielder coolly slid the ball past Robinson from eight yards.

From then until half time Northwich repeatedly opened up the Southport defence with their slick passing and clever movement off the ball.

Brayson, Allan, Byrne and Battersby combined to set up Allan, but his shot was blocked at the near post on the quarter hour.

Carr then should have added a second.

Brayson spotted his run after holding the ball up on the left, only for the 23-year-old to scoop the ball over from six yards.

Southport rarely threatened, with two long range efforts from Paul Hoolickin and Alex Smith failing to test Phil Senior.

Richard Battersby clipped a clever pass in to Allan on 34 minutes, only for the Vics marksman's shot on the turn to be parried clear by Robinson.

Stuart Elliott's fizzing half volley on the stroke of half time flashed inches past the post with Robinson beaten Northwich seemed to have ended the contest within five minutes of the restart.

Allan's right wing cross was met first time by the onrushing Carr, who blasted the ball gleefully past the Southport custodian.

Stunned into action, Southport rallied briefly as Dino Maamria's shot struck the post when it seemed easier to score.

Normal service was resumed when the outstanding Carr set Allan clear, only for him to fire straight at Robinson.

The Sandgrounders went straight down the other end to halve their deficit.

Joe Fowler's speculative shot from just inside the cross flew across Senior and in at the far post in the 55th minute.

But Vics still insisted on spurning the chance to end the game.

Hoolickin was punished for blocking Danny Mayman's dribble with his hand on 65 minutes.

Brayson stepped up, but his spot kick was so aimless it cleared the travelling Trickies behind the goal and flew out of the ground.

Southport saw their chance, and sub Awen Douglas was desperately unlucky to see his outrageous 40-yard shot slam the inside of the post with two minutes left.

Paul Cook's men attacked more with courage than cohesion and Burr's back line, expertly marshalled by the returning Gareth Griffiths, resisted to seal the points and send Vics into the top half of the table.

STAR MAN: Michael Carr - Easy choice. Comfortably his best performance of the season so far.

Should have had a hat-trick but, more than that, was a figure of perpetual motion throughout. Timed and executed his running of the ball and his tackles to perfection.

SOUTHPORT (4-4-2): 1-Robinson, 15-Rowland, 4-Powell, 16-Martin, 3-Hoolickin, 8-Blakeman, 6-Boyd (11-Olsen 71), 19-Fowler (22-Douglas 77), 17-Smith, 9-Gray (7-Baker 71), 10-Maamria.

Subs not used: 21-Bagnall (GK), 2-Lane.

Goal: 19-Fowler 55.

Booked: 3-Hoolickin (dissent), 10-Maamria, 17-Smith, 19-Fowler (all fouls).

VICS (4-4-2): 1-Senior, 2-Battersby, 4-Griffiths, 6-Charnock 15-Brown (24-Barwick 75), 7-Mayman, 5-Elliott, 8-Carr, 14-Byrne (3-Gallimore 66), 9-Allan, 10-Brayson (18-Townson 81).

Subs not used: 20-Connett (GK), 17-Sale.

Goals: 8-Carr 12, 50.

Booked: 8-Carr (dissent).

Attendance: 1059.

Referee: David Richardson (West Yorkshire).