Danny Carlton was the thorn in Southport's side as he ran rings around the Southport defence. Carlton should have given Morecambe an early lead when he pounced on an error by Mark Roberts, but his shot came back off the post, giving the Southport defence a chance to clear the danger.
Minutes later Morecambe broke the deadlock when Ged Brannan whipped a ball into the Southport box, to Carlton who looped his header over Dickinson into the back of the net.
Southport's best chance of the first half came from a Steve Pickford corner which was met by Mark Roberts, but his shot fell inches from the target.
Southport opened the second half looking to get straight back into the game, as Steve Pickford played a ball into the area, for Nick Rogan to shoot just wide from 10 yards out.
However, Morecambe once again asserted themselves into the game, coming close to doubling their lead when a Danny Carlton corner was met at the back post by Chris Blackburn, but his shot went wide. Morecambe's lead was increased when Garry Thompson collected the ball in midfield and fired from long range, fooling Dickinson in the Southport goal.
Liam Watson rang the changes to see if that could inspire his side to a fight-back, but apart from a Steve Daly chance, as well as a Nick Rogan chance – both saved well by Drench – Southport were unable to spark any comeback.
Mark Roberts did put the ball into the net, but unfortunately for the Southport defender it was into his own goal, as he tried to clear a shot by Ged Brannan, just to add to Southport's troubles.