A late equaliser meant Southport didn't get through immediately, but that didn't detract the praise the manager had for his side, writes Tom Feaheny.
"I was really proud of the performance, man for man they were outstanding, we could have got that extra goal," Davies told the club's website.
"You can sense something with the leaders we have brought in, the changes that have been made, the character and response has been outstanding in the past week, the training has been really good.
"We can feel something turning within this group, it is starting to come together, the spirit is there, I have played in successful teams, I know what it takes, we have big characters, they are doing all we are asking of them.
"We tried things in the opening four games, we've watched games back, we want to get the players to be used to be playing one way."
Southport next face County on Wednesday as they look to reach the first round of the competition, they then take on Tamworth in the National League North at the weekend.
For more news, reaction and action from across the National League, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.