Tranmere Rovers fell to defeat in pre-season, as opponents Southport emerged 1-0 victors at the Big Help Stadium.
An 83rd minute Ben Hockenhull own goal secured the win for the hosts, against a Rovers side mixed with first-team players and trialists.
Tranmere had chances of their own, rattling the crossbar twice in the opening 45 minutes, first through Kieron Morris and again via Kane Hemmings.
It marks the Club’s second pre-season fixture, as they continue to build towards the 2023/24 Sky Bet League Two campaign.
Sam Taylor fired in the first attempt of the game on six minutes, before Marcus Carver began to cause problems at the other end, crossing for Jack Bainbridge who couldn’t quite meet his fierce delivery.
The Southport forward then burst into the box and shot, but was denied by an excellent Tom Davies block.
Carver next fired over on 26 minutes, from which Rovers immediately countered, but Morris’ shot across goal didn’t trouble Tony McMillan.
His next effort did, though, as the midfielder rifled an effort from 25-yards against the hosts' crossbar.
Tranmere continued to dominate the end of the half; first Josh Hawkes curled over before Hemmings saw his effort from distance gathered by McMillan.
Then the forward had a golden opportunity seconds before the break, nodding against the unforgiving bar from a few yards out.
The half-time interval saw three changes, one of whom was Reece McAlear, who powered down the right but couldn’t find a Tranmere shirt with his cross.
Connor Jennings had a header cleared off the line before Taylor turned past his defender and shot into the arms of McMillan on 72 minutes.
The young forward was in the action again, latching on to a loose ball and running through one-on-one, but his eventual effort was off target.
Then came the breakthrough for the hosts, as a Hockenhull header looped over Trialist 1 in the Rovers net.
Tranmere weren’t able to carve out a chance in response and succumbed to defeat against their National League North opponents.
Tranmere Rovers XI: Luke McGee, Lee O’Connor, Josh Hawkes, Jordan Turnbull, Tom Davies, Paul Lewis, Kieron Morris, Regan Hendry, Sam Taylor, Kane Hemmings, Connor Jennings.
Subs: Charlie Jolley, Trialist 1, Reece McAlear, Trialist 2, Ben Hockenhull, Mikey Davies, Trialist 3, Rhys Hughes, Trialist 4, Trialist 5.
Attendance: 962 (380 Tranmere)