LIAM WATSON slammed the performance of referee Robert Merchant as 10 man Southport were thumped by champions Crawley Town.

The official showed Port striker Matty McNeil a second yellow card after just five minutes of Saturday's Blue Square Bet Premier match at Haig Avenue leaving the home side with a mammoth task against the division's best side.

Richard Brodie quickly capitalised on the man advantage by putting Crawley into a seventh minute lead before he doubled the score after 20 minutes.

Additional goals from Josh Simpson (57) and Scott Neilson (76) compounded the Yellows' misery who now are three points adrift of safety.

And though Watson admitted he expected to get little from the weekend's fixture with the title winners, the decision of referee Merchant to send off McNeil so early in the game angered the manager.

"It was the worst refereeing performance I have probably ever seen in my life," said Watson.

"I would even question if he knew the rules.”

Meanwhile, Vauxhall Motors were denied victory over promotion chasing Solihull Moors with a last minute equaliser.

The Motormen fell behind to to Beswick's 26th minute striker but equalised through Mahon.

Beswick re-established Solihull's lead before Tom Hanningan (77) levelled and then McGivern gave Vauxhall a 3-2 lead with two minutes remaining.

But Matt Smith pounced in the final minute to make it 3-3.