Match Report: Longridge Town 1-3 Colne

Longridge bowed out of their fourth Cup competition of the season, but this performance against Colne last night bore no resemblance to the tame exits in earlier tournaments. Town played well, Colne played better simple as that.

With an eye on Saturday's League fixture against Darwen at The MRG, Ashey rested Richie Allen returning from injury to the bench, starting former Colne striker Jay Hart up front with Paul Turner.

Town started the better of the two sides and had created several opportunities already before Paul Turner put them ahead after just eight minutes, volleying home Tom Ince's superb cross from close range to put Longridge 1-0 up.

Colne were a young, dynamic side featuring several former trainees from local League Clubs and passed the ball around well in what was a turning into a great game for the neutral. The styles were very similar and it was a battle of wits, more than a physical test, with both sides playing with width and pace,

Oliie Wood scored the equaliser after 28 minutes powering home a header from a superb Brad Lynch cross. 1-1, and a fair refection of the opening half hour.

Lynch continued to cause problems but Colne's second goal was one of Town's own making.

A defensive error saw a back pass fall short of keeper Lee Dovey who, in an attempt to win the ball, brought down Wood for a clear penalty.

The big striker got to his feet and shot low to Doveys left, who was unlucky to see the ball go under his body to put the visitors 1-2 up.

The game settled into an end to end encounter, played at great pace, with Town looking to stay in the game and get to half time with no further score.

It wasn't to be however as , on the stroke of half time, former Blackburn Rovers midfielder Alex Curran powered a shot past Dovey to end the half at 1-3 Colne.

This was probably a touch harsh on Town, who had played well against a side two Divisions above them in the Football League
pyramid, but Colne had been more clinical finishing their chances well.

The second half saw much of the same, although Dovey was called into action several times and made three superb saves to keep the scoreline
respectable.

Sub Brad Wicks hit the post late on, and Tom Ince continued to link well with lone striker Paul Turner after Jay Hart was forced off with a recurrence of his recent hamstring injury.

Alex Murphy also struggled on his comeback from a muscle injury, and looked to have risked it too soon as he was replaced by Joe Melling.

The other downside to an entertaining game came when Turner was carried from the field after an awful tackle from behind with 10 minutes
remaining.

Maybe it had been too easy a game to referee, good football played in a good competitive spirit, in front of another excellent crowd of 180, and maybe the challenge took the officials by surprise, but to let it go unpunished was unfathomable, and left a sour taste in the mouth of the Town supporters as the whistle went to end the game.

Longridge's focus now returns to the league with the visit of AFC Darwen to The MRG on Saturday, with a 3pm Kick off scheduled.