Match Report: Longridge Town 7-2 Ashton Town

Longridge Town moved back to the top of the Hallmark Security NWCFL First Division North with a 7-2 win over Ashton Town at the MRG.

Town put on a dominant display from first to last against the visitors as they moved onto 60 league goals scored from just 13 outings.

Key to that has been the budding attacking trio of Jay Hart, Richie Allen and Tom Ince, who were all once again on the scoresheet on Wednesday evening.

Just short of 200 spectators got their money’s worn under the lights as Town put on another display of free-flowing attacking intent.

Prior to kick-off getting underway, there was plenty of emotion on show at the MRG as Town paid their respects following the passing of defender Jordan Tucker’s mother earlier in the week.

As the game got under it was Ince who got the ball rolling in the goalscoring stakes, rounding off a fine attacking move down the left wing, applying the finishing touch inside the six yard box.

Allen doubled the lead before the break, thumping in a half-volley from the edge of the box, giving the Thomas Goodwin in the Ashton goal no chance.

Goodwin was impressive throughout, denying plenty of Town attacks but into the second half was powerless to stop to goalscoring going into overdrive.

Phil Doughty, forward from defence, headed in almost immediately after the restart to effectively move the game beyond the opposition.

Before the hour mark, a rare foray forward saw Ashton pull one back but in reality only served to spur Town on further still.

A quickfire double through Ince, with his second of the night, was followed shortly after by Hart who would end up taking home the Man of the Match prize.

As the game entered the latter stages the crowd favourite took the game by the scruff of the neck.

Before adding his second, he was on hand to play a defence-splitting throughball to release substitute Paul Turner who kept his composure to round Goodwin and get himself on the scoresheet.

Following what had been a frustrating night in front of goal Hart continued to buzz between the lines, causing Ashton problems and was deservedly rewarded with his brace.

Having scored Town’s seventh of the night he duly whipped the home crowd even further into a frenzy, completing his now familiar backflip celebration.

That wasn’t the end of the action though with Ashton slotting in a second as the ball broke in the penalty area for Dylan Glass following a ricocheted shot from range.

With Carlisle City not in action, the result sees Town move back to the top of the table prior to the weekend’s Macron Cup First Round clash with Squires Gate at the MRG.