The Ridge played out a single goaled draw with newly promoted Euxton Villa in the second game of the NWCFL Premier Division season.

The game also saw Town right back Leighton Hewitt go up against his brother and former Longridge Town teammate Aaron Hewitt.

Carson Greaves bagged his first goal for Town, only for it to be cancelled out by a responding equaliser from Rajwinder Uppal.

There was one change to the starting XI on opening day, as Leighton Hewitt took the place of the absent Ben Trafford.

The first half was a bit of a game of two halves in a weird way, with Town edging out the first 25 minutes and the visitors the final 20.

The first effort fell to Matt Van Wyk as Town raced out the blocks.

Goalkeeper Oliver Bellizia caught an effort before launching it over to Van Wyk who raced down the left before firing into the side netting.

Just over five minutes later and Longridge led.

The attack was once again started by the goalkeeper Bellizia, who again picked out Van Wyk with a long kick down the left.

The forward took it in his stride before sliding in Liam Atkinson who turned and fired it across goal into the path of Greaves who tapped into the empty net.

Town looked to expand upon their lead and add a second, as they hit the hosts with a lightning fast counter with Luke Smith finding Ryan McLean whose first time effort fizzed over the bar.

It was around this time that Aaron Hewitt came on to replace the injured Shorrock, going up directly against his brother.

Atkinson then took the first of many efforts the forward would have from 15 yards, though he was denied by Lombard.

The ball came out to Hewitt whose fired wide.

With 10 or so minutes left of the first half, the hosts began to turn the screw a bit.

Bellizia dealt with two efforts outside the box after racing off his line.

Town then had to throw bodies on the line big style with five minutes until half time, however it was an incredible sight.

Bellizia had to parry an effort out to Euxton's Darley, who looked to be about to bury it, but McLean dived in to brilliantly block it with a slide tackle.

Moments later and Marshall emphatically blocked an effort from Singleton, thankfully both players carried on following the heavy collision.

Bellizia was then called into action again, brilliantly tipping wide an Euxton volley from 20 yards just before the break.

The hosts probably had the better of the second half.

That being said, Town started it quite brightly.

Not even ten minutes in and Atkinson was denied well by Lombard in a one-on-one.

Town then made their first change of the evening, with Ethan Edmundson taking the place of Carson Greaves.

The first warning sign then came as Euxton put the ball in the net, thankfully for Town though the flag promptly went up on the far side.

Then came a real flash point, as Edmundson won a tough but fair duel against Darley.

The Euxton man decided to respond by flying through the Longridge midfielder, resulting in mass handbags.

When everything was settled and calm, the referee brandished a yellow card, even though Town were asking for more.

This was seemingly the turning point as two minutes later the hosts equalised.

A.Hewitt slid in Uppall who rifled it past Bellizia at his near post, leveling the scorline.

Moments later and Town were even more frustrated.

L.Hewitt, admittedly, brought down Darley on the left wing a bit harshly.

The Euxton man decided to respond again, this time ragging the youngster by his neck.

Hewitt was the only one punished though, receiving a yellow card.

Bellizia then tipped an fierce effort from the edge of the box wide.

Atkinson came so close again moments later.

Town broke forward and it fell to the striker, whose effort almost skimmed the right hand post as it flew wide.

Louie Wignall then made his debut for Town, replacing Jordan Dainty.

The debutant took aim three minutes later, but could only roll wide from the edge of the box.

The other Hewitt on the pitch Aaron, was then booked too, for a late challenge around 30 yards from the Town goal.

The game didn't see anymore real chances of note.

High saw an effort from the edge of the box parried away as Town looked to nick a late winner.

The visitors had one of their own though, with Bellizia clutching an effort from distance to his chest.

The referee then blew time, confirming a point to take out of the game as Town moved up to 5th.

Assistant manager Charlie Russell gave us his thoughts on the evening:

"I think we've got to take a point on the road in a very difficult game, very physical, but I've just said in there, no matter how good you are at football tonight that was a tough game.

We went one nil up, could we have held onto it? Probably. But I think we've got to learn that as we go through the season.

I think we matched them (physically), they were a lot bigger than us and we've got a young dressing room and they've got a bit of experience that runs through theirs.

We did well tonight, and we're proud of them, it's not an easy place to come and they will win games here, and I think we're pleased with them".

The full interview is available here:

Like Charlie said, a point on the road is never a bad thing.

Especially at Euxton, a very tough place to go.

Though we send thanks for their hospitality and best wishes for the season.

All the attention now turns to Saturday's FA Cup tie at Pilkington.

We then take a week off (providing we don't draw and play a replay), to prepare for the tough test of Wythenshawe FC at home.

The Goals

Euxton Villa: Uppal (63')

Longridge: Greaves (15')

The Teams

Euxton Villa: Lombard, Wyers-Roebuck, Darr, Gibson, Kent, Swarbrick (Reader 87'), Tait, Darley, Singleton (Hall 46'), Shorrock (A.Hewitt 31'), Uppal (Bentham 70')

Longridge: Bellizia, L.Hewitt, Marshall, Banks, McLean, High, Greaves (Edmundson 56'), Smith, Dainty (Wignall 73'), Van Wyk, Atkinson