Dagenham & Redbridge and Southport failed to settle this FA Trophy tie at the first attempt as the visitors held on to earn themselves a replay on Tuesday.
The Daggers began the game with a 3-4-3 formation which signalled their intentions to end this match at the first attempt.
In the eighth minute Tim Cole's header from Junior McDougald's cross found the head of Mark Stein but he directed the ball over from point-blank range.
A minute later a similar situation saw Lee Matthews connect powerfully with a diving header but a combination of Steve Soley and Steve Dickinson stopped the ball crossing the line.
John McGrath then saw his effort blocked when he was one-on-one with Dickinson and it seemed only a matter of time before Southport would crack.
However, lively Paul Wheatcroft forced Paul Gothard into a splendid tip-over in the 13th minute and later in the half Gothard made a great save with his foot as Dean Howell’s cross was met by Ian Nolan.
The Daggers were undoubtedly the dominant force in this fixture. Stein for once was guilty of not making the most of his opportunities on the day but Southport looked more comfortable after the break as the hosts pressed but they lacked the verve and flair of the first period.
Southport never registered a shot on goal in the second period whereas McGrath's volleyed cross was met by the head of Matthews that cannoned off the post, hit Stein and landed in the hands of Dickinson.
McGrath had a rising shot that just cleared the crossbar and Stein swivelled and shot past Dickinson only to see Scott clear the danger.
Substitute Danny Hill injected some life into the Daggers. His probing and subtlety still failed to break down the visitors though. His throughball to Stein looked to have been the key moment until Stein dragged his left-foot shot past the far post.
The game ended goalless and Southport manager Mike Walsh was delighted with his first game in charge.
"I was very pleased with the way we passed the ball at times,†he said.
“The only negative thing was that we were hanging on a little bit and sitting deep near the end.
“But the effort level and commitment was very good. Dagenham & Redbridge looked the more likely to score but we have come away from home and got the draw.
“Neil Moore, Barry Jones and Chris Lane looked very good at the back and that was a great exercise for me today. The tie has not swung in our favour though and I am not kidding myself.
“Mark Stein has missed six or seven chances and on a different day we might have lost that game.†Dagenham & Redbridge manager Garry Hill said: "If we had taken a third of our chances today we would have won but you can’t look at the negatives you have to look at the positives.
“We will go to Southport on Tuesday and they will have to come out a bit more which might suit us.â€