Farsley 0 Southport 3
By Declan Carr
Southport FC advanced to the next round of the FA Trophy with a comfortable win.
The Sandgrounders continued their unbeaten run as they beat a depleted Farsley Celtic 3-0 to secure a place in the fourth round.
Their task was made easier by the fact that the home side were forced to name five debutants and just two players on the bench as a result of COVID cases.
Goalkeeper Tony McMillan made his 250th appearance for Southport, and it might have been his easiest to date. The only real effort on goal for Farsley was an 11th minute free-kick that sailed just over the crossbar.
Southport, on the other hand, had several chances in the first-half. Isaac Buckley-Ricketts was put through on goal but couldn’t find the target, before Jack Doyle tested the keeper with a low driven free-kick across the goal.
Jordan Archer then rounded goalkeeper Thomas Donaghy and passed the ball into the empty net in the 24th minute before hitting the bar from Doyle’s free-kick minutes later.
Niall Watson broke down the left, but failed to convert, firing his effort straight at Donaghy from close range in the 36th minute.
The fog worsened and the referee decided to give the players just five minutes to recuperate from their first-half efforts.
Southport started the second half brightly and Watson was dragged down by Tyler Walton and stepped up to score the resulting penalty after 56 minutes.
The home side then had a penalty appeal rejected before Doug Tharme’s looping header put the result beyond doubt with 20 minutes to go.
Farsley’s day went from bad to worse when Tom Allen received a second booking with just nine minutes left.
Southport await the result of the draw on Monday and will be looking forward to a return to the Citadel in ten days time in the league.
Line Up: McMillan, Oliver, J Doyle, Anson, Tharme, Munro, Archer. Buckley-Ricketts (Carver 56) Vassallo, Watson, Bainbridge
Unused Subs: Mason, Benjamin, Woods, Hmami & Edwards
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