Despite two fightbacks, Longridge fell to a drowsy defeat to lower league Droylsden in the third round of the Macron cup.

Ashcroft made just the one change from Wednesday's defeat to Bury with Dean Ing returning to the forward line.

It was a scrappy start to the match until the deadlock was broken by the day's first piece of quality.

Ben Lowe picked it up 30 yards out before dancing past two Longridge defenders and firing it into the bottom left corner with just 11 minutes on the clock.

Minutes later and ex Longridge trialist Kilheeney bent a cross/shot just past the far post from the right hand side.

Longridge then had a spell of possession.

The first real opportunity came from a great Homson-Smith delivery which Turner just couldn't connect properly with and nodded it wide.

Homson-Smith continued his danger from set pieces two minutes later as he slipped in Scott Harries who fired over from 20 yards out.

Town then had yet another free kick which Homson-Smith decided to shoot from. Piper punched it out to Harries who again fired it over.

Just moments later, slightly against the run of play, the Bloods doubled their advantage.

Nelson Van received it on the half turn before beating Gourley and Olawumi and chipping it into the far corner, leaving Town with their work cut out.

It was rather action-less until the 37th minute when Morgan Homson-Smith lashed a volley way over the bar after a nice take down.

The Ridge were dangerous from now until the break.

Olawumi nodded another Homson-Smith free kick into the path of Gourley who volleyed just over the top left corner.

Town's pressure finally paid off as Turner nodded Kier Barry's long ball into the path of Dean Ing whose pressure on Amoakwa forced the defender to poke it past his own 'keeper, giving Longridge a lifeline.

Following two added on minutes the half time whilst was blown, giving Ashey a lot to think about.

He decided to put Luke Smith on for Cameron Gourley at the break.

Five minutes into the second half and Town were level.

Homson-Smith's quality proving too much for the hosts again as he corner caused panic on the six yard box before Calen Gallgher-Allison reacted quickest to stab the loose into the roof of the net.

The Ridge were now in the ascendancy. Mitch Marshall hit one from 25 yards which was only just kept out by Piper.

After a long ball was nodded backwards on the hour mark, Homson-Smith brilliantly vollyed it into the path of Ing who looked to run the 'keeper but his heavy second touch just let him down as it rolled wide.

Again, against the run of play, Droylsden scored.

Town hadn't learned their lesson as West picked out the bottom right as he ran onto a long ball.

However, it was an almost instant response as Paul Turner claimed his sixth goal of the season.

The forward threw himself at a cross from the right and bumbled the ball over the line to level the scoring for a second time.

65 minutes on the clock now and Dean Ing would depart for Harrison Kay.

With twenty minutes left to play Town tried to push for a winner as Wilkinson brilliantly picked out McLean who forced a corner.

Kay delivered and a Droylsden defender almost knocked it into his own goal.

78 minutes on the clock now and Harries drove forward before laying off Homson-Smith whose first time shot was caught by Piper.

The Bloods then hit Town on the counter but Kasali's shot had the same result, with a simple catch for Kier Barry.

With five minutes of normal time left it was Droylsden who grabbed the all important seventh goal as Lewys side footed it home as he found space at Town's far post as West squared it.

As we entered the final minute, the hosts confirmed the win as Fenton slid it home after latching onto another long ball.

The Ridge made a late double change as Luke P Smith made his debut with Alex Welsh also entering the fray, replacing Marshall and McLean.

The full time whistle would blow, confirming Longridge's exit from the competition as Droylsden went through to the last 8.

A disappointing result but a chance for Ashey & Co to focus on the league.

It's now Glossop away for us on the Tuesday night before returning home to take on Pilkington on the 23rd.

The Goals:

Droylsden: Lowe (11'), Van (23'), West (60'), Lewys (85'), Fenton (90')

Longridge: Amoakwa (OG, 41'), Gallagher-Allison (50'), Turner (64')

The Teams:

Droylsden: Piper, Warburton, Amoakwa, Oaks, Shipton, Whitehead, Kilheeney (Lewys 80'), Lowe (Fenton 70'), Kasali (McKay 88'), Van, West

Longridge: Barry, Marshall (Welsh 90') Olawumi, Gourley, L Smith (46'), Gallagher-Allison, McLean (L P Smith 90') Wilkinson, Harries, Homson-Smith, Turner (Clark 88') Ing (Kay 65')