Longridge Town's frustrating away form continued with a narrow defeat at Atherton LR.

The home side led by three goals with minutes left, but Town made it a very nervy finish with late goals from Liam Atkinson and Ben Trafford.

On that topic, Atkinson scored on his return to the side after spending over a month on the sidelines.

As you were, Liam.

Connor High and Will Procter dropped to the bench, with captain Ben Fletcher also coming back into the XI.

Town got the game underway and started it well.

Atkinson took the game's first effort, rolling one into the arms of LR goalkeeper Sam Jones from the edge of the box.

The striker then headed onto the roof of the net after connecting with a Leighton Hewitt cross five minutes later as he searched for that comeback goal.

Hewitt was then involved again, racing down the right and playing in Luke Smith who sent a left footed effort over the bar.

A minute later, LR 'keeper made a brilliant diving save to keep out a close range header from Jack Anderton.

Hewitt then saw his effort go into the arms of Jones as Town continued to knock on the door.

Despite this, it would be the hosts to break the deadlock.

After beating the offside trap, Tom Lawless raced down the right and placed his effort of the far corner.

The striker then snatched his second, heading past Crowe from close range on the stroke of half time.

At the break, Lee Ashcroft swapped out Maddox Banks for Will Procter.

Kai Crowe made a great double save to keep Town in the game five minutes into the second half.

Town then began to really search for a way back into the game.

Josh Ashe fired wide from the edge of the box.

Anderton then saw another close range effort kept out from close range, firing straight at Jones.

A quadruple change on 67 minutes saw Town switch it up.

Leighton Hewitt, Ben Fletcher, Luke Smith, Josh Ashe made way for Ethan Edmundson, Connor High, Jordan Dainty and Mason McKay.

Town started to look like the Longridge that started the game then, as Anderton sent a fierce header over the bar.

Crowe was called into action again though, making a good save in a one-on-one before the rebound was cleared off the line by a covering Trafford.

However from the resulting corner, LR captain Dave Moore poked at the back post.

Despite this, Town didn't give in.

Edmundson saw a header land into the arms of Jones.

The hard work would eventually pay off, as Anderton snuck it into the feet of Atkinson who rolled it between the legs of Jones to pull one back.

As Town attacked again, Anderton have the clear beating of Abiola Obasoto, who hacked down the winger as he dashed past him.

Town were furious, the referee responded with a yellow card.

Anderton fizzed the free kick onto the head of Trafford who found the top corner, making it game on.

Town got bodied forward, and as a McLean cross fell to Mitch Marshall, the full back's powerful goalbound effort was blocked.

The full time whistle blew not long after

What could've been.

Once again it wasn't our night on the road, but we'll keep the faith.

Thank you for the brilliant support tonight, it was great to see some numbers down on a Tuesday night away game.

We're back at home on Saturday 8th November when we host Euxton Villa in an all-Preston clash.

The home table has Town in 4th, whereas we sit second bottom in the away table, showing where the issues lie.

However previous seasons had it the other way round, so it's great to see you helping us Inglewhite Road a fortress.

Let's do it again this weekend.

#UpTheRidge

The Goals:

Atherton LR: Lawless (38', 45'), Moore (75')

Longridge: Atkinson (87'), Trafford (90+1')

The Teams:

Atherton LR: Jones, Chadwick (Alley 46''), Amoakwa, Obasoto, Brookes (Lenehan 67'), Houghton, Moore, Cushion, Bacon (Sample 67'), Lawless, Romano

Longridge: Crowe, Hewitt (Edmundson 67'), Banks (Procter 46'), Trafford, Marshall, McLean, Fletcher (High 67'), Smith (Dainty 67') Ashe (McKay 67'), Anderton, Atkinson