Southport 3 - 0 Bamber Bridge
Bamber Bridge bowed out of the LFA Challenge Trophy at the hands of Southport after a 3-0 defeat on the Sefton Coast.
First-half strikes from Danny Lloyd-McGoldrick and Luke Carroll-Burgess put the hosts into a comfortable lead at the break, with David Morgan securing Southport’s progression with an early second-half effort.
Debuts were given to Sandro Da Costa and Robbie Cleary at the Big Help Stadium as Brig went in search of a semi-final spot in a competition, they enjoyed success in last season.
Brig started the game well with Jack Baxter going close early on forcing the hosts skipper Jordan Keane into a smart block following a short corner.
However, for all Brig’s early intent, the hosts took the lead on 18 minutes as Lloyd-McGoldrick fired into an empty net after a miscued effort from Dior Angus.
On what was a fog-ladened evening on the Sefton Coast, Brig responded well to going behind with new signing Da Costa seeing a ricocheted effort spiral narrowly wide of Chris Renshaw’s near hand post.
On the half-hour mark Chris Churchman produced Brig’s best chance of the half – seeing a swirling effort from 25-yards palmed around the post by Renshaw.
Lloyd-McGoldrick went close again late into first-half proceedings, seeing a stinging effort rise just over Harvey Bardsley’s goal.
On the stroke of half-time the hosts made Brig rue missed chances as Carroll-Burgess slotted past Bardsley, after a slick breakaway down the right-hand side, to double the National League North outfits lead.
Neither side shifted personnel at the break as Brig went in search of the all-important next goal.
A hopeful effort from David Morgan forced Bardsley into a straightforward save from distance before Brig delivered multiple corners in quick succession - as the game came alive in the early stages of the second half.
Churchman tried his luck from a dead ball, but to his dismay Renshaw was more than equal to the effort, pushing the ball away from the claws of the lurking Da Costa.
However, for all Brig’s positive intent it was the hosts and Morgan who grabbed the all-important third goal, albeit hefty shouts for offside from Brig defenders which the referee waved away profusely.
Jamie Milligan shifted personnel late on using all five substitutes in search of a late consolation goal, with Lewis Pilgrim almost latching onto a Lewis Hey delivery inside the final ten minutes.
The referee brought the game to a close as brig bow out of the LFA Challenge Trophy at the quarter final stage.
The lads will return to league action away at Stockton Town this coming Saturday (18th January) in search of an all-important victory in the Northern Premier League.
Reporter: Ernie Bratherton (@BrathertonE15)
