Match Report: Longridge Town 1-1 Garstang (2-4 On Pens)

Longridge haven't lost at home in a League game for almost 3 years, but yesterday they suffered their second Cup defeat in two games at The MRG as Garstang emerged victorious in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes in the NWCFL Division One Cup.

Manager Lee Ashcroft had a strong squad to choose from with just Joe Melling carrying an injury over from the midweek victory at Atherton LR, so Danny Gardener replaced him in the starting line-up.

Garstang lined up with just one up front as they looked to prevent the League’s leading scorers from adding to their goal tally. This tactic worked as Town struggled to create many chances despite enjoying plenty of possession.

Richie Allen flashed a header wide from a Murphy cross but otherwise Kitchen in the Garstang goal was untroubled in the opening 30 minutes.

The visitors continued to sit deep, conceding possession on the half way line and being very disciplined in their defensive shape.
Whilst not great to watch, it was certainly proving effective and at Half Time the teams went in at 0-0, with not much to write about.

The second half began in much the same vein with Tom Ince working the ball cleverly looking to get Allen and Hart in behind the visitors defence.

The deadline was broken on the hour mark as Richie Allen beat two men in the penalty area before firing low past Kitchen into the net to put Town 1-0 up.

The visitors would have to change their game now and leading scorer Alan Coar was replaced up front as they switched to 4-4-2 in an attempt to get back into the tie.

This gave Town more space and they really should have made the game safe as Allen and Hart were guilty of missing several chances, over-elaborating at times when well placed.

Allen then had a goal disallowed for offside, a tight decision, and Garstang moved former Town striker Ric Coar up front with 20 minutes remaining.

This move paid dividends with 10 minutes remaining as Coar ran clear of the Home defence. He looked clearly offside but the flag stayed down and he slid the ball past Dovey to level the score at 1-1.

Still Town had chances to win it, with Ince twice seeing goal-bound efforts cleared off the line, whilst at the other end Dovey saved superbly from a Shaun Sailor shot.

The game went straight to penalties, with no extra time being played in this competition, and Garstang scored their first four with Murphy and Turner being the unlucky Longridge lads, seeing their efforts saved by Kitchen.

With no midweek game Town travel to an in form Bacup Borough next Saturday with a 3pm kick off scheduled at the West View Stadium.