Southport started the day above the relegation zone but lost their Conference status after being hammered at Stevenage.
It was abject surrender and in front of a sizeable travelling contingent who made the most of a generous travel subsidy from Charlie Clapham to pack out the Stevenage away end.
Wins for Woking, Leigh and Gravesend saw them all move away from Southport, who rarely got a look in against a Stevenage side who dominated from the start.
Jamie Cook wasted an early chance by blazing a shot over the crossbar and Paul Westcroft was denied by a good save from Steve Dickinson.
Dickinson did even better to keep out a fierce 25-yard shot from Anthony Elding but could do nothing to stop Stevenage taking the lead after 20 minutes.
Nathan Bunce met Cook’s corner to head home from close range.
Stevenage increased Southport’s woes in the 34th minute when Simon Wormull put Danny Carroll through and he fired home from close range.
Stevenage continued to press after the restart and Elding went close on two occasions before Southport put in their first serious goal attempt, but Peter Thomson’s close-range shot was well saved by Mark Westhead.
Stevenage put the game beyond the visitors in the 61st minute when Dino Maamria collected Cook’s pass to score from close range and end Southport’s stay in the Conference.
STEVENAGE BORO 3 – 0 SOUTHPORT
Competition: League / Conference
Date: 26/04/2003
Attendance: 2382
Southport Line-Up: Steve Dickinson, Andy Scott, Neil Moore, Barry Jones, Dean Howell, Chris Lane, Syd Pickford, Steve Soley, Liam McGuire, Paul Wheatcroft, Lee Ashcroft,
Subs: Kevin Welsby (GK), Kieran Charnock, Lee Mulvaney, Martin Clark (Paul Wheatcroft), Peter Thomson (Liam McGuire)
Match Details
Match Details - 26/04/2003
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