Report Credit: Soutportfc.net
Four first-half goals put Southport on their way to a comfortable victory over Burscough in the Liverpool Senior Cup quarter final.
John Marsden, Amadou Bakayoko, Richard Brodie and Danny Hattersley were all on target during a dominant opening for the Sandgrounders as Gary Brabin’s side eased into the last four.
Although this was an away tie for Southport, the match was played at the Merseyrail Community Stadium due to the ongoing problems caused by a fallen floodlight at Victoria Park.
In what was an open start to the match, Darren Brookfield, the former Southport midfielder, sent a dipping shot over from 20 yards before an effort from Danny Dunleavy was blocked at close range by Danny Lloyd-Weston, the returning Port goalkeeper.
The Sandgrounders took the lead on 14 minutes as Marsden latched onto a long ball forward before shrugging off the challenge of Wade Joyce and turning the ball home.
Two minutes later, Bakayoko added to Southport’s lead by dispossessing defender Paul Williams before running through on goal, and shortly after it was Williams who tripped Bakayoko in the area to give Brodie the chance to add a third from the penalty spot.
Marsden was denied a second by Jack Cookson when he was one-on-one with the Burscough goalkeeper but Danny Hattersley did add a fourth before half-time, converting a right-wing cross from Matt Challoner.
Southport’s starting line-up featured youngster Paul Jewell and as the second half progressed he was joined on the field by fellow youth team players Drew Lewis and Josh Bonsu.
Burscough reduced the deficit ten minutes after the break, as a free-kick from Joyce was touched on by Ryan Schofield and Jordan Williams was on hand to prod the ball home.
Southport, however, remained in control and after a shot from Hattersley was blocked by defender Schofield, Marsden made it five with 12 minutes remaining after a slip from Phil Quirk.
The Sandgrounders are joined in the semi-finals by AFC Liverpool, Bootle and Skelmersdale United.
Southport: Danny Lloyd-Weston, Matt Challoner, Luke Foster (Luke George 46), Dom Collins (Josh Bonsu 83), Andy Mitchell, Paul Jewell, Scott Kay, Amadou Bakayoko, John Marsden, Danny Hattersley, Richard Brodie (Drew Lewis 65).
Attendance: 149
RefereeL Andy Scregg
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