Match Report: Atherton LR 0-6 Longridge Town

Longridge travelled to Atherton LR last night knowing that a win would send them to the top of the Hallmark Securities NWCFL Division One North.

Ashey had a full strength squad to choose from for the first time in a month, with suspended duo Tom Ince and Richie Allen returning to the starting line up.

Unlike last Saturday Town started brightly, having chosen to play ‘up the hill’ in the first half.

Captain Michael Morrison picked out in form striker Jay Hart after just four minutes, and Jay made no mistake chipping the keeper having beaten him to the pin point pass. 0-1 Town.

It was then end to end stuff as Atherton broke at pace down the left hand side in particular, but Conor Linighan again excelled to keep the hosts at bay.

Richie Allen was thwarted several times by the home keeper, and was unlucky to see his audacious back heeled effort go just wide after half an hour.

At this point though Atherton were very much still in the game, and Lee Dovey in the Town goal made two outstanding saves, one to deny a far lost header from close range, and the other to tip a long range effort onto the crossbar.

Longridge had allowed Atherton to settle, and grow in confidence, and at half time it was still an open game with any outcome possible. Town 0-1 up then as the teams went in at the break, after an entertaining half.

Danny Gardner replaced the injured Joe Melling at half time to make his debut for the Club, as Longridge played ‘down the hill’ looking to kill the game as early as possible with a second goal.

With 57 minutes on the clock Richie Allen finished off a good move with a left foot finish after Jay Hart had been denied by the keeper. 0-2 Longridge, and Atherton's will had been broken at last.

Six minutes later it was three as Michael Morrison headed home from close range from a Murphy corner to make the game safe. 0-3, and with half an hour to go regular Longridge supporters knew that there was a chance that more goals would follow.

They were right. As Atherton tired, Town moves the ball around well using the width of Murphy and Gardner to good effect. Danny Wilkinson was running the midfield now and a fourth goal came after Allen’s slide rule pass found Hart in space. The striker finished coolly to the keepers right to make it 0-4 to Longridge with 17 minutes remaining.

Both Hart and Tom Ince were then taken off as a precaution, with Brad Wicks and Paul Turner getting a run out.

Richie got his second, and Town’s fifth, with five minutes to go capitalising on a defensive error to make it 0-5, before Brad Wicks finished off the best move of the night in time added on.

Superb football between Wilkinson, Turner and Murphy saw the ball moved quickly down the left in a one touch move before Turner fired in a shot from 20 yards.

The Atherton keeper, who had kept Town at bay in the first half, couldn’t hold on to the powerful effort and Wicks was sharp to reach the ball first and dink it into the empty net. 0-6, with seconds remaining.

It was to be the last action of the game as the whistle blew to end a satisfying victory for Ashey and the lads.