Bradford (Park Avenue) slipped to a second successive defeat as Southport ran out 3-0 winners at a damp Horsfall Stadium.
Volunteers worked tirelessly all day to ensure the game went ahead, with only two other fixtures in the National League North taking place.
But goals from Ryan Astles, Devarn Green and David Morgan meant all the hard work was for nothing as the visitors took all three points home.
Avenue had a few sniffs at goal early on, as Dan Sweeney’s low cross just couldn’t find Lewis Knight, before Knight’s cross was headed wide by captain Keith Lowe.
Joe Green then had to be alert as Dean Winnard’s header took a late flick from an Avenue head, but the goalkeeper saved well.
Bradford then came their closest as Knight took aim from a wide free kick, almost catching out Charles Albinson, but the visiting keeper got down smartly to smuggle the ball away.
But it was Southport who took the lead, following on from a questionable free kick on the left, as Jack Doyle appeared to slip, but the referee adjudged a foul by Knight.
Devarn Green took inspiration from the Bradford man, going for goal and almost catching out his namesake Joe, who tipped it onto the bar. Adam Nowakowski couldn’t connect with the clearance though, and centre back Ryan Astles lashed home.
The goal did nothing to invigorate a scrappy half, the closest any side came was just before the break as a loose ball fell for Zayn Mohammed, but Green was out smartly to deny him.
Avenue were worried once more early in the second period, Mohammed winning a header at the back post and Green could only scramble it out of the net, Priestley doing well to clear from the goalmouth.
Bradford then had a wonderful chance to level as Kemy Agustien played a fantastic ball through to Sweeney, but he couldn’t keep his shot down from a tight angle.
And moments later the visitors doubled their lead through Green, who latched onto the end of a fantastic Morgan ball through, and the winger had all the time in the world to slot through the legs of the Avenue stopper Green.
Morgan then capped a fine display with a spectacular goal of his own, taking aim from at least 30 yards and finding the bottom corner with aplomb.
Just minutes later, Avenue were left fuming with the referee once more as Jack Sampson flew into a challenge on Josh Heaton but received just a yellow card, the Avenue man forced to play on with a limp after his side had just made all three changes.
The game fizzled out though there was still time for one final Avenue attempt, Sweeney finding space in the box for a shot but his low effort was excellently kept out by Albinson.
Bradford (Park Avenue): Green, Lund, Priestley (Keane 61), Lowe ©, Hughes (Johnson 76), Heaton, Knight (Dockerty 62), Agustien, Sweeney, Hurst, Nowakowski
Subs not used: Bazeley, Marriott
Booked: Knight (28), Heaton (72)
Southport: Albinson, Mohammed, Doyle, Winnard, Astles, Morgan, Benjamin, Wood, Green (Glynn 71), Sampson (Correia 78, Bauress
Subs not used: Parry, Hanford
Goals: Astles (29), Green (65), Morgan (75)
Booked: Benjamin (39), Sampson (77)
Referee: Paul Brown
Attendance: 418
