It was another game of two halves which saw Longridge come away with nothing in Manchester.

The Ridge missed out on a chance to beat the newly promoted side.

A Jack Anderton opener was cancelled out as Abbey Hey came out a different side in the second half.

Centre halves Ben Trafford and Connor returned to the starting 11 whilst new boy Jefferson Goncalves came in for his debut.

Matt Van Wyk also returned.

The start was scrappy, but Town managed to play their stuff.

The Ridge saw two early shots saved in the first ten minutes.

Van Wyk was the first to see his effort turned away from goal by Connor Beard.

Liam Atkinson then surged down the left and aimed for the far corner but the 'keeper was equal to it again.

McLean fired the ball across goal towards Atkinson on 15 minutes.

The attacker got a toe on it to poke it goalwards but Beard was there to parry away again.

The hosts then had their first real opportunity of the game as Jake Dunford found himself almost clean through on goal down the right.

However Town were as the attacker dragged it just wide of the far post.

The Ridge looked to get a grip of the game again as Anderton and Goncalves played a nice one two before Jefferson's shot was tipped over by Beard.

Town were then good value on the counter just after the half hour mark as Ben Trafford's sliding challenge dispossessed a Hey attacker who was about to shoot.

Roberts cleared into the path of Goncalves who beat his man and shot.

However, continuing the theme of the game was Connor Beard, who did well beat it away.

The Ridge took the lead before the break.

Harvey Roberts floated a free kick towards the far post and looked to be heading in.

It bounced through everyone apart from Jack Anderton who got the deciding touch to help it in.

Longridge took the deserved lead into the break despite having to battle for it.

The start was the second half was almost identical to the first, with both sides unable to get a grip of the ball.

Despite this, the hosts managed a quick equaliser.

A free kick delivery was headed on by Yoak and bundled home by Grant.

Moments later and Longridge won a penalty in what proved to be a massive turning point in the game.

Goncalves raced into the area down the right but a Hey defender flew through him in an attempt to win the ball.

Harvey Roberts stepped up but once again, Beard with a massive save as his parried the strong effort away from goal to continue Longridge's penalty woes.

Town tried to keep the momentum as Anderton saw an effort deflect wide, but it was evident that Abbey Hey were inspired now.

Walker made a good save as Henderson's effort from the edge of the box stung his palms.

However, Jamal Crawford turned the game on it's head as his raced down the right, cut inside and found the bottom corner with his left.

Jack Banks and Mitch Marshall replaced Matt Van Wyk and Connor Newton moments later but the hosts were relentless.

Jordan Barnett added a third with 15 left to play.

The Ridge were close to pulling one back with ten left, as Mitch Marshall picked out Atkinson who nodded inches wide.

Following five added minutes, Abbey Hey added a fourth, as Rhys Clooney raced one-on-one with Walker and slotted it into the bottom corner to top off a miserable afternoon for Longridge.

The full time whistle promptly blew.

We'd like to once again thank the brilliant away support who are travelling in numbers.

We go again on Tuesday night as we begin our Macron Cup campaign against First Division North side Holker Old Boys at Inglewhite Road.

We then host Bury on Saturday 5th October, with that game being a ticket only fixture.

Get yours now to be sure not to miss out:

The Goals

Abbey Hey: Grant (53'), Crawford (67'), Barnett (75'), Clooney (90+5')

Longridge: Anderton (41')

The Teams

Abbey Hey: Beard, Grant, Dickin, Dibble, Rogers, Yoak, Nolan (Crawford 46'), Barnett, Dunford (Turner 46') Clooney, Henderson (Edmunson 69')

Longridge: Walker, Hewitt, Trafford, Newton (Marshall 80'), McLean, Smith, Roberts, Anderton, Goncalves, Van Wyk (Banks 72') Atkinson