Southport cruise past Bamber Bridge in FA Challenge Trophy

Southport secured a comfortable 3-0 triumph over Bamber Bridge FC in the Lancaster FA Challenge Trophy, showcasing an expected dominance throughout the course of the match.

Their goals came in the 19^th, 47^th and 61^st minutes which secured their path into the next round of the competition, with the Sandgrounders eyeing their second trophy in three seasons.

Southport begun the game on the front foot. They kept the visitors under constant pressure with deep crosses coming from both flanks often resulting in corners. In the third minute Danny Lloyd produced an excellent corner aimed towards Moore at the back-post whose effort went over the bar.

Bamber Bridge grew into the game and started to create chances, often coming down the right flank and attempting to produce a byline cut back for Mark Cullen to try and finish, but the Southport center halves stayed tight to the number 9.

In the 17^th minute Bamber Bridge’s Chirchman switched the play with the outside of his boot to Cullen on the right flank who carried the ball into the box before he was stifled by Southport’s captain Keane.

Soon after in the 19^th minute Lloyd put the home side 1-0 up as Morgan played a low cross along the face of the goal which led to the keeper spilling it to the forward.

As the half continued the visitors kept probing to try and find a way back into the game, which resulted in a dangerous effort in the 36^th minute from range by Chirchman, but it was dealt with well by Renshaw.

Just before half-time Keane went down in discomfort off the ball and was forced off. The centre back was replaced by Knight-Percival.

In added time the home side doubled their lead with a long ball which caught the defence out, allowing Burgess to run through on goal and slot it past Bardsley.

Southport started the second half strong solidifying their advantage in the game. They started targeting the left flank with every move resulting in a dangerous cross into the box.

This was executed perfectly in the 61^st minute where Lloyd threaded a pass through the defence which left it on a plate for Morgan to confirm the victory.

The game slowed down from this point until full time as the home side just protected the ball to see the game out.