Bamber Bridge welcomed National League North outfit Southport to The Sir Tom Finney Stadium, for the first round of the Lancashire FA Partners Challenge Trophy.

Southport parted company with Alan Lewer and Mark Wright, just four hours before kick-off. Neil Reynolds' side came into the game on the back of an enthralling 3-2 victory last time out over Brighouse Town. The Bamber Bridge manager saw his team come behind from 0-2 down, scoring three goals in the six minutes of second-half added time.

Bamber Bridge made three changes from Saturday’s match, with Matthew Mahoney, Chris Marlow and Matthew Dudley replacing Macauley Wilson, Adam Dodd and Brad Carsley. Southport named a much-changed side.

The hosts entered the cup tie in a rich vein of form, having taken thirteen points from a possible fifteen in the Evo-Stick North which has left them sitting pretty, third in the table. Southport’s form couldn’t have been more juxtaposed heading into the cup clash. The Sandgrounders have lost their last five games in all competitions, scoring just the one goal.

It was the hosts that started lively, the first opening coming five minutes into the game. Alistair Waddecar found space on the far-left side, his left footed drive just about kept out by Matt Lavelle in the Southport goal. Two-minutes later Brig had the ball in the back of the net. Regan Linney’s overhead kick from inside the box nestled into the bottom corner, only for the striker to look up and see the linesman’s flag raised on the touchline.

The Whites were on top in the opening exchanges, moving the ball well and stopping any Southport attack from materialising. Daniel Mooney and Alistair Waddecar looked menacing out wide. Mooney was inches away from picking out Matthew Dudley with an eye of the needle pass, the striker beat the offside trap, but the onrushing Lavelle was there to gather.

The first chance for the visitors fell on the 25-minute mark. Kaiman Anderson cut in on his left foot, his cross finding Yvez Zama, whose header lacked the power and direction to test Lloyd Rigby in the Brig goal.

Southport grew into the first-half as it went on, the former Manchester City man Lee Croft seeing lots of the ball. The Sandgrounders’ possession eventually sparked the first save from Rigby. Alex Fletcher’s curling first time effort was destined for the bottom corner, but the ball was palmed away well by the Goalkeeper. The number-one was called into action not long after, Dan Cockerline stinging the palms of the Brig shot stopper.

Despite Southport’s dominance it was the hosts who took the lead, and in some style, it must be said. Daniel Mooney cut inside on his left foot, before whipping an inch perfect strike in off the right-hand post from the edge of the box.

If it wasn’t for Matthew Mahoney at the back post, the side in green and white may well have found themselves level. Southport’s Kaiman Anderson snuck in at the back post to connect with the looping cross, but Mahoney was there to block the goal-bound volley.

Daniel Mooney looked in the mood for Brig, and his left-footed free kick wasn’t a million miles away from finding the top left corner from an improbable angle. Anderson looked the most likely to make it happen for Southport, he sent a curling effort high and wide from inside the box, just short of half-time.

It got even better for The Whites on the 43rd minute mark, when Phil Doughty headed home from Matthew Dudley’s corner. Time seemed to stand still, as the ball looped up and over everyone in the Southport box, and into the bottom corner.

Regan Linney went close with another acrobatic attempt from a corner not long after the second goal, before Alex Fletcher sent another first-time attempt over the bar for Southport.

HALF TIME: Bamber Bridge 2-0 Southport (Mooney, Doughty)

There was just the one change for the hosts before the second-half. Daniel Mooney was replaced by James Boyd.

It didn’t take long for Brig to add to their third goal. Regan Linney broke the offside trap, fired across goal for Matthew Dudley who slammed the ball home into the roof of the net for three-nil.

On the 54th minute mark, Dan Cockerline scuffed an effort high over the bar, after Lee Croft’s cross inadvertently picked out the number-fifteen.
Southport made a double change, just shy of the hour mark. Yvez Zama was replaced by Bafude Djabi and Lee Croft made way for Isaac Jones.

The result was put beyond any doubt when Chris Marlow bulldozed his way through down the left-hand side, he picked out Dudley with an inch perfect cross, who headed home for his second and Bamber Bridge’s fourth of the night.

The whites were rampant, and showing no mercy against a frail Southport backline. James Boyd pulled the ball back into the box after excellent work down the left, his delivery picking out Alistair Waddecar who slotted home into the far corner making it 5-0.

Brig made a double change on the 69th minute, Sam Staunton-Turner and Stuart Vasey came on for Alistair Waddecar and Matthew Mahoney.
With fifteen minutes left to play, Linney remained a threat up top. He burst through down the left showing far too much pace for Ben Foulds, however his cross into the box evaded everyone in a white shirt.

The third and final Southport substitution saw Kaiman Anderson make way for Rhoss De Andrade.

To say Southport looked fragile at the back was an understatement, and Brig didn’t intend on showing any sympathy. Regan Linney found himself unmarked, to head home the sixth into the top left corner from James Boyd’s perfectly placed free-kick.

Matthew Dudley had the chance to seal his hat-trick with a free kick from twenty-yards, but the number-nine smashed his effort over the bar. James Boyd had a real influence from the bench, he twisted and turned the Southport defenders inside out, only to see his goal bound effort deflected wide.

The final whistle was inbound but Bamber Bridge weren’t done there. Linney finished well to make it 7-0 after finding himself through on goal. The finish sealed his brace and an emphatic cup victory on a night under the lights to remember for Bamber Bridge. The Whites stroll into the next round of the Lancashire FA Trophy.

FULL TIME Bamber Bridge 7-0 Southport (Mooney, Doughty, Dudley 2, Waddecar, Linney 2)

Match reporter: George Hodgson (@GHodgsonSport)

Full gallery of match photos available: HERE