Torquay United recorded their first win under the reign of player-manager Kevin Nicholson with a slender victory away at Southport.
Alex Fisher scored the game's decisive in the opening minute, when he turned home a corner from Dan Butler to score his fifth goal of the season.
Louis Briscoe was unlucky not to add a second shortly afterwards when he had an effort cleared off the line, but the Gulls managed to hang on to secure their first win in 12 matches and their first clean sheet since the opening day of the campaign against Macclesfield Town.
The win was a big boost to United, who had previously tasted defeat in Nicholson's first two games in charge against Aldershot Town and Dover Athletic.
Next up for United is a trip to Woking on Tuesday night, which is then followed by a home fixture with Play-off chasing Grimsby Town next Saturday.
By that point, Nicholson might have drafted in an assistant to work alongside himself and goalkeeper coach Kenny Veysey.
