The summer saw us welcome nine new signings, but the ones who would be here for the long run include Jacob Bridges, Tom McCann, Liam Atkinson and Ben Trafford.

This also included Jordan Dainty and Connor Newton, who returned after previous spells at the club.

Following a lengthy but great pre-season campaign which saw a total of nine games, Town got their season underway at home to Burscough in late July.

The Ridge went down to ten men very early on though, as Liam Atkinson received his marching orders just a minute into his debut for a challenge on then Burscough goalkeeper Kier Barry.

However the game would finish 10v10 after the Burscough captain James McCullough saw red for a last man challenge on Owen Watkinson.

The game then took a final twist as youngster Leighton Hewitt, off the bench, scored a fantastic 90th minute goal from 25 yards to spark wild scenes after winning a very hard fought three points on opening day.

Town then had to follow that up against the previous season's play-off semi finalists Charnock Richard. Unfortunately the visitors ran out 4-0 victors at Inglewhite Road.

Town responded well though, with an FA Cup victory.

Goals from Matt Van Wyk and Ryan McLean saw Town best Cheadle Town 2-0 to advance to the preliminary round.

The boys then travelled over to the Isle of Man for their first away game of the season.

Harvey Roberts opened the scoring after just eight minutes, after Van Wyk had capitalised on a Ravens defensive mistake as the game finished 1-0.

Town then returned home to demolish Colne 8-0 at Inglewhite Road.

Owen Watkinson scored four against his former side, before Van Wyk (x2), Jordan Dainty and Paul Turner got in on the act.

Longridge were flying but then had to compete in a tough FA Cip preliminary round game against Northwich 1874.

Despite Mitch Marshall breaking the deadlock early to put Town ahead, the visitors bagged three goals including a wonderful 40 yard lob to win the tie.

Unfortunately, during that goal, goalkeeper Jordan Gidley landed awkwardly trying to reach the ball, ending his season with a terrible injury.

This didn't stop the NWCFL awarding him with the July/August goalkeeper of the month award for his remarkable clean sheet record.

Desperate for a goalkeeper, Town turned to the legend himself Lee Dovey, who agreed to return for one match.

This came in a 1-0 win over Litherland REMYCA, where he performed brilliant between the sticks.

Liam Atkinson opened his Longridge account in that game, with a wonderful finish from the edge of the box.

Despite a valiant FA Vase effort, Town departed the competition at the first hurdle to record four time winners Whitley Bay.

Town took a two goal lead despite Connor Newton being sent off early in the second half, via Atkinson and Luke Smith.

However the visitors made the man advantage count to score three late goals and advance.

Town then had to regroup, and play two home matches against the league leaders and 2nd placed side.

The first came against the latter, which Chadderton edged out a 2-1 victory despite a Smith equaliser.

Clitheroe goalkeeper loanee Mason Walker then donned the gloves for the next couple of months.

However, the Ridge regrouped and mastered a 3-1 home victory over table toppers Ramsbottom to close out August.

Rammy took the lead just before half time, but and outstanding second half performance saw Town score three.

Leighton Hewitt volleyed in from the edge of the box to level it, before late goals from Ben Trafford and Jack Anderton confirmed the win to put Town back into the play-off spots.

Longridge then followed this up with a nine goal thriller away at Pilkington.

Ryan McLean chipped the 'keeper to score Town's fastest goal of the season at just 48 seconds.

Matt Van Wyk then notched an incredible four goals just after Jordan Dainty had got on the scoresheet as the Ridge ran out 6-3 victors.

However September was tough, as Town opened to two defeats.

The first, a 5-1 home defeat to West Didsbury & Chorlton, the next a 2-1 away defeat to Barnoldswick Town despite a jaw dropping free kick goal from Roberts.

The team needed to respond, and respond they did.

Goals from Anderton and Smith saw a professional performance from Longridge earn a 2-0 victory over newcomers South Liverpool.

AFC Liverpool then came to Town, only to be blown away 3-1 following brilliant strikes from Dainty, Roberts and Atkinson.

Disaster struck however, as a trip to Litherland REMYCA ended in frustration.

It was around this time that injuries also started to hit even more, including captain Ben Fletcher, but regardless there was an away game to compete in.

Town had come from a goal behind to lead following an Atkinson brace, but the home side notched another two, and saved a Van Wyk penalty to win.

This was then followed up by a 5-2 defeat away at Squires Gate and a 4-1 defeat at Abbey Hey.

However the response was there, as Town edged out Holker Old Boys on penalties to advance to the second round of the Macron Cup, but the league was a frustrating competition at the moment.

Town then hosted Bury, which saw an all time record crowd of 1,000 of Inglewhite Road.

The Shakers took the lead just before half time as a corner went all the way in.

There was then another Bury goal on the other side of the half to double their lead.

Luke Smith then pulled one back from the spot before missing another one just moments later.

The visitors took then took control, winning 5-1.

Town then travelled to Glossop North End, as the game finished 9v10.

Longridge led 2-1 before Glossop had two men sent off, this included Luke Smith on the Longridge side though.

The nine men then equalised with practically the final kick of the game.

Longridge did respond to the set back though, as they travelled to high-flying Lower and ended up leading 3-1 thanks to a Liam Atkinson hat-trick, but as was form at the moment, two late Lower Breck meant the points were shared.

With many positives to take though, Town moved onto the NWCFL Preston derby, away at Charnock Richard.

The hosts lead 3-0 and seemed to be condemning Town to another defeat.

However Atkinson scored twice to ignite a comeback.

The hosts then made it 4-2 though to seemingly quash any attempt.

This didn't deter Town though, as Dainty scored a lovely solo effort before Atkinson equalised after going one-on-one with the Charnock goalkeeper to grab his second consecutive hat-trick and spark scenes amongst the travelling Town faithful.

Liam was the only player in the Premier Division this season to score a hat-trick in consecutive games.

Town then had a tough task ahead, with an LFA Cup trip to Clitheroe.

However, this kicked off a campaign to remember.

Atkinson got proceedings underway before the hosts equalised soon after.

A penalty from Joe Adams out Town back infront before an incredible 20 yard chip from Dainty extended their lead.

Lucas Wane then scored immediately after to confirm a 4-1 win for Town.

Following some cracking games, Town looked to replicate these performances away at South Liverpool.

However, this proved difficult, as South grinded out a 3-1 win despite an Atkinson header.

Things then got worse, as this was followed up by a 1-0 home defeat to Glossop and an 8-0 defeat away at Gigg Lane, to league leading Bury.

Atkinson got on the scoresheet again away at Cheadle, but it proved futile as the hosts came back to win 3-1.

Longridge looked certain to get back to winning ways after a Liam Atkinson brace helped Town to a late 3-2 lead over Barnoldswick.

Unfortunately, Barlick levelled in the last minute as the wait for a league win went on.

It would go on too, as Atkinson got Town out of jail in the 90th minute away at Colne in a 1-1 draw which saw goalkeeper Kier Barry return to the club.

Captain Ben Fletcher thankfully made his return from injury.

It was around this time that Lee Jameson took the reins as the new chairman of Longridge Town FC.

Bottom of the table Prestwich Heys, making a cracking recovery in fairness, then snatched a huge 2-1 win over Town in the dying stages, despite Jack Anderton scoring directly from a corner.

Atkinson bagged yet another brace at home to Irlam, but the Blues would win 3-2 at Inglewhite Road to frustrate Town further.

It's not like it was for lack for trying either.

Finally, it seemed the hunt for three points would end, as Town led 3-1 away at division newcomes Stockport Town following an own goal, a penalty from Adams and a header from Atkinson.

However, as was form, the Lions roared back to score twice at the death to draw level.

Town contested offside but no dice.

BUT.

To the relief of everyone involved with the football club, the win finally came.

Bottom of the table Squires Gate made the trip over to PR3 with both sides now desperate to end a barren run.

Town took the lead just after the half hour mark, as Hewitt forced a loose ball over the line from close range.

The visitors hit back through the aptly named Will Squires not long after.

However little over a minute later and Anderton was dragged down as he raced in on goal to win Longridge a spot kick.

Van Wyk stepped up and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way.

Morgan Homson-Smith, on loan from Bury and making his second debut, then came on in the second half.

He ran onto a superb ball from Marshall to square it to Hewitt, who snatched his second of the game and Town's third.

Not before we made it hard for ourselves in true Longridge fashion, as the visitors scored late on to make it nervy, but the lads saw it out.

What followed was even better.

Town travelled to Northern Prem side Lancaster City in the quarter final of the LFA Cup.

The hosts went strong and took the lead early in the second half.

However Town stayed in the game and won a penalty at the death after Luke Smith was fouled.

Atkinson stepped up and hit it in off the post to send the game to penalties.

Kier Barry made two incredible saves to leave it in the hands of Hewitt, who made no mistake to fire Town through to the semi finals.

Unfortunately, Cheadle then rocked up to Inglewhite Road and won 1-0 to bring us back down to earth a bit.

The lads bowed out of the Macron Cup in the second round following a penalty shootout defeat to Padiham, despite a 1-1 draw and a Van Wyk goal in normal time.

It looked to be going poorly again as Town went two goals behind away at then league leaders Ramsbottom.

However the boys banded together brilliantly and fought their way back.

Dainty and Anderton both scored to win Town a hard fought point.

The Ridge then followed it up with a 2-1 win at home to Abbey Hey, where Morgan Homson-Smith scored the winner from the penalty spot.

Town then had to play play-off chasing Padiham twice in a row though, onxe at home and once away.

The home game couldn't have gone worse, with the Storks running out 5-0 winners.

However Town reacted brilliantly and won 1-0 at the Ruby Civil Arena after an incredible defensive display following a 50 second Anderton volley.

The Tuesday following was tough though, as they fell to a 3-0 defeat at FC St Helens.

A response was needed again, and boy did we get it.

The Ridge travelled to Chadderton, a side who were still in the hunt for the play-offs despite a bit of a drop off.

Chaddy took the lead but an astonishing strike from Accrington loanee Rio Alston pulled us level.

Anderton then caused carnage in the 93rd minute as he latched onto an exquisite backheel from Alston, to rifle past the 'keeper at the near post to cause carnage on and off the pitch.

The hosts actually finished that game with nine men, one red card for dissent and another for a late challenge on Town goalkeeper Kier Barry.

The reds then followed this up by coming from two goals behind to draw at home to Stockport Town, with help from Tremaine Eastmond and Anderton.

McLean struck the crossbar from 30 yards out in the 95th minute.

There were then two straight defeats to Liverpudlian sides, Lower Breck and AFC Liverpool, before a strong away performance finished in a 0-0 draw away at Irlam.

Then came the almighty LFA Cup semi final against National League North side Southport, who fielded a full strength side.

The Sandgrounderd went in ahead at the break, after a Danny Lloyd corner went straight in.

However Town put out what was potentially their best performance of the season in the second half, putting the NLN side under immense pressure.

Longridge couldn't find a way through until Liam Atkinson was tripped off the ball in the penalty area with ten minutes to go, giving Town a lifeline.

Unfortunately, the Southport 'keeper kept out Anderton's spot kick, forcing Town to bow out despite an incredible performance from each and every red man.

The season then almost petered out from that point, as straight defeats to FC St Helens, Pilkington and Burscough flew by.

However this didn't stop an incredible away following supporting the boys in West Didsbury, who needed a win to confirm their play-off spot.

They got it in the shape of a 1-0, despite another strong Longridge showing.

Final day then rolled around, as Town edged out Prestwich Heys 1-0 at Inglewhite Road via a Liam Atkinson strike, also helped by an incredible goalkeeping performance from Barry.

This confirmed our 18th place finish on 48 points, a record points tally for us playing in a league with 24 teams.

There's always positives to take.

Just after this game saw our end of session awards.

Leighton Hewitt claimed the supporter's player, young player and committee player of the year.

Whilst Liam Atkinson claimed the top scorer, manager's player and the player's player of the year.

Jordan Dainty was awarded the goal of the season award for his exquisite chip at Clitheroe in the LFA Cup.

Jack Arrowsmith was handed the champagne moment, after coming back from a two year ACL injury, some incredible hard work from Arrows there.

Whilst most important of all, Freddie Woan was awarded with the supporter of the year award for attending every home and almost every single away game this season.

Incredible dedication, well done Freddie!

Everyone at Longridge Town thanks each and every one of you for your support this season.

You are the lifeblood of the club and we couldn't do it without you.

So..... who can't wait do it all again?