Champions Crawley stretched their unbeaten Conference run to 27 games with a 4-0 win at relegation-haunted Southport today.

Reds' task was made easier when Southport striker Matty McNeil was sent off inside the first five minutes for fouls on Kyle McFadzean and John Dempster.

The visitors went ahead three minutes later when Richard Brodie stabbed home Josh Simpson's cross from close range and Brodie got his 13th of the season on 20 minutes after Port keeper Tony McMillan mis-judged the bounce when Dannie Bulman drove the ball forward and Brodie stroked it into an empty net.

Crawley scored again on 57 minutes when Scott Neilson beat McMillan with a superb right-foot shot into the top corner with his first touch moments after coming on.

And Simpson rounded off a very comfortable afternoon for Steve Evans' men when he scored from close range after a sweeping counter-attack involving Neilson and Jamie Cook.

Brodie missed two chances to complete his hat-trick when he failed to find the target with only the keeper to beat but this was still a very comfortable afternoon for Steve Evans' side.

Evans watched the game from the stand because he is on crutches following a knee operation.

His assistant Paul Raynor said: "We said we would be focussed after winning the title and we showed that again. We moved the ball well, were solid at the back and it was another fantastc victory."