Avenue are stunned by Collins
BRADFORD PARK AVENUE 0 NORTH FERRIBY UNITED 1
ROCK-BOTTOM North Ferriby stunned Bradford Park Avenue with a 1-0 victory at the Horsfall Stadium.
Avenue enjoyed a lot of early possession but the sides cancelled each other out in a cagey opening 15 minutes.
The visitors took a shock lead with 19 minutes on the clock as Lewis Collins darted into the box and drilled his effort past Steven Drench.
The hosts finally tested Ross Durrant after 30 minutes of trying to do so, as Dan Pybus forced a strong palm away from the keeper after Oli Johnson had threaded through to the young loanee.
Avenue made a bright start to the second-half but Frank Mulhern fired wide and Nicky Clee was denied by Durrant. Mulhern’s miss was one he’d rather forget, as he rounded the Ferriby goalkeeper before rifling into the side-netting.
Luca Havern then got on the end of a deep cross but could only head into the grateful Durrant’s clutches.
Adam Smith provided a spark for Avenue after his introduction, but Rob Atkinson headed wide after the winger’s fantastic delivery.
Avenue piled forward in droves as the clock ticked but couldn’t find a way past Durrant, and Ferriby even came close to extending their lead in stoppage time when Drench made a fantastic stop to deny Collins.
STAR MAN: Lewis Collins (N Ferriby) ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★✶
Curzon went ahead in the 14th minute, Matthew Regan stabbing home the rebound after sending his initial effort from Sam Walker’s free-kick against the base of the upright.
As the first half went on, Southport began to find more of a rhythm and they drew level through Gilchrist, heading in his 23rd goal of the season after being left unattended from an Osborne free-kick.
Shaw handed Southport the lead when he disastrously misjudged an attempted back pass from 35 yards past his goalkeeper Cameron Mason.
Mason later produced an athletic stop to deny Gilchrist and, after a close second half of few chances, Osborne was able to set the seal on the win, tapping the ball in after selfless work from Dion Charles and Jack Sampson.
STAR MAN: David Morgan (Southport) ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★