Town were not their usual selves, as they succumbed to a 3-0 defeat to AFC Liverpool.

Despite lovely sunny conditions, the result reflected that of the opposite.

Courtsey of three first half goals, the hosts ran out deserved winners.

The only changes to the Town side were Connor Newton and Jordan Dainty coming into the XI.

Mitch Marshall pulled out late with a hamstring injury.

From the first whistle, the hosts were on top.

Striker Adam Moorcroft set the tone early by bursting into the box before seeing a shot deflect off Trafford and out for a corner.

Town managed to clear their lines but the danger wouldn't go away any time soon.

Somehow the ball ended up rolling across the empty box, only for Moorcroft to be brilliantly denied by Barry.

Rio Alston looked to create something in responded as he managed to win two consecutive corner but Town couldn't captilse.

Hewitt fired a low cross along to six yard box after receiving it from Sohna but goalkeeper Parkinson was out to hold it.

Newton then made a vital challenge to prevent Paton from having a close range effort.

However, despite the hard work the hosts took an inevitable lead on 16 minutes.

Moorcroft opened the scoring at the third time of asking after breezing past Trafford and finding the bottom corner.

Six minutes later and it was another.

Caleb Jones darted past McLean and poked it through the legs of Barry to double AFC's advantage.

Town looked for a response via Tremaine Eastmond but the forward's 20 yard volley landed in the stand behind the net.

It then went from bad to worse just before the break as Liam Paton poked a cross from Jones into the roof of the goal.

Following a frustrating first 45, Ashcroft made a triple change at the break.

Ben Fletcher, Sheikh Sohna and Rio Alston departed for Jacob Bridges, Jenson Carter and Pierce Beetham, who made his debut.

The hosts then though Anderton was lucky to stay on the pitch following a very late challenge on half-way.

However he was booked for his troubles.

Town came so close to pulling one back early doors as a corner delivery by Anderton was headed out by Adam Sudworth.

It fell to Leighton Hewitt who fired it back at goal but Parkinson did well to save it with his feet.

Ethan Edmundson then replaced Jordan Dainty.

Barry held a shot from Matthew Brown well before throwing out.

Town then built well to counter attack and Anderton then laid off Eastmond.

The attacker hit a low driven effort towards the far corner but Parkinson again made a great save to deny him.

There were then two woodwork hits in quick succession as the hosts took charge again.

Jones struck the post from a tight angle before Moorcroft saw a 20 yard effort bounce off the top of the crossbar.

A dipping effort from Paton almost took Barry by surprise but the young 'keeper did well to tip it over.

He was then on hand again as Paton struck a fierce effort towards goal from 20 yards but Barry tipped it wide well.

AFC substitute Cameron Rooney sliced an effort wide in the last minute as the game's final chance on goal.

The full time whistle then blew, condemning Town to inevitably defeat.

Not the result nor performance the boys were looking for but once again, they fought until the very end.

We now have a week break before travelling to promotion chasing Irlam.

They'll be looking to close the three points gap on the play-offs.

A massive thank you to those who travelled down to Liverpool to support the boys.

We massively appreciated it.

We go again.

#UpTheRidge

The Goals:

AFC Liverpool: Moorcroft (16'), Jones (22'), Paton (39')

Longridge: N/A

The Teams:

AFC Liverpool: Parkinson, Wight-Ocana (Flanagan 79'), Lancaster (Rooney 76'), Sudworth, Beckett (Giblin 79'), Fisher-Jones, Mahaffy, Brown, Paton, Jones (Skillen 76'), Moorcroft (Farringdon 82')

Longridge: Barry, Hewitt, Trafford, Newton, McLean, Fletcher (Bridges 46'), Sohna (Carter 46'), Eastmond, Dainty (Edmundson 70'), Alston (Beetham 46'), Anderton