Liversedge FC’s highly promising start to the new season has suddenly come off the rails with back to back 5-0 defeats that nobody saw coming.

After narrowly losing to Ossett United in the FA Cup it was an instant return to form with a terrific 4-1 home win in midweek against Guisborough Town in the NPL East.

Goals from Kelan Swales, Joe Walton, Alfie Dean and Lewis Barlow made it four wins form four league games following promotion and had Danny Forrest’s men sitting proudly on top of the table going into the weekend.

But they came off the rails with a 5-0 loss to Bootle, from the Northern Premier League Division One West, in the FA Trophy first qualifying round.

Liversedge suffered their first defeat of the season in the NPL East when they were hammered 5-0 at Pontefract Collieries. Photo by EC Media

placeholder image — Liversedge suffered their first defeat of the season in the NPL East when they were hammered 5-0 at Pontefract Collieries. Photo by EC Media

And a repeat scoreline followed when Sedge made the trip across West Yorkshire to play Pontefract Collieries in a league game on Monday afternoon.

Despite making the brighter start they were unable to find the net and it became a struggle once they went behind after Joe Walton headed into his own goal on 29 minutes.

Three minutes later Walton’s day was to get even worse as he was sent-off after bringing down a forward when deemed to be the last man. From the resulting penalty Elliott Walker made it 2-0.

James Morris added to the lead just before the hour mark and a well struck volley from outside the box by Jack Greenhough then made it four.

Clayton completed the visitors’ misery when he followed up Morris’s shot to make it 5-0 late on.

The FA Trophy tie had seen Liversedge still in the contest when only one down at half-time and it could have been better as they saw a penalty saved after Finn Donovan had been brought down.

But a goal in the first minute of the second period seemed to knock the stuffing out of them and Bootle soon had a third. They were able to add two more before the final whistle.

"It was inexplicable and shambolic. Five or six minutes that lost us the game,” said Forrest.

"First half we were competitive, had the better chances and missed a penalty to go 1-1. At half-time despite being 1-0 down I fancied us.

"But we got it completely wrong and were punished in a severe way.”

Sedge are now looking to quickly regroup when back at home on Saturday against Lincoln United who have made a strong start with 10 points from their five league games.