Bradford (Park Avenue) suffer Southport thrashing

Hopes of going out on a high at home were cruelly shattered as Southport ran rampant.

Even worse, the scoreline could have been even more.

Southport saw plenty of chances go begging and the winning margin could easily have been greater had it not been for the impressive George Sykes-Kenworthy in the Avenue goal.

Sykes-Kenworthy has been one of the team’s players of the season, pulling off a string of excellent saves, but even his heroics couldn’t avoid a drubbing this time.

Southport took the lead thanks to a couple of Jordan Archer goals in the space of two minutes (16 and 18), the first when Avenue had a man off the pitch injured.

The second was scored from the penalty spot after the ref adjudged that Niall Watson had been brought down.

Archer was only inches away from scoring what would have been a five minute hat-trick, just failing to get on the end of a great Connor Woods cross.

Southport were on top and the home side’s cause wasn’t helped when Nicky Clee was sent off in the 28th minute.

There would be no way back after that.

Chris Doyle put Southport 3-0 up by half time, heading home a Doug Tharme throw.

The second half saw Southport in total control against the 10 men of Avenue.

Unsurprisingly, the visitors went four up when Watson rifled a shot home in the 48th minute and he put the icing on the cake with the fifth in the 79th minute.

Bradford replaced poor Sykes-Kenworthy after the fifth went in but the substitution was no reflection on his performance.

It was pre-planned to give Liam Hall, who has been impressing in the junior side, a chance to make his first team debut.

Boss Mark Bower said: “It was nice to get Liam on at the end - and for him to keep a clean sheet.

“But it was a disappointing end to the season.

“We got the job done (safety from relegation) earlier in the season so we’ve got to be pleased with the season as a whole.

“The challenge now is to be stronger next season - because we will need to be.”