With both Manager Lee Ashcroft and Assistant Charlie Russell unable to travel over, chairman Kevin Harrison took the reigns with Daniel Wilkinson as his number 2.

The only change to the side saw Matt Van Wyk come into the starting XI in place of Ethan Edmundson who dropped to the bench.

The hosts saw a massive chance go begging, as Adam Adebiyi volleyed just inches wide after 30 seconds.

However Town soon settled and got playing.

Their first effort on goal came through Josh Ashe, whose 25 yard free kick was held by Ravens 'keeper Mark Blair.

Leighton Hewitt also came close, flashing just wide as Town broke down the right hand side.

Anderton then had his first effort of the evening, firing over the bar after cutting inside from the right.

It was then Luke Smith's turn to shoot, however he could only finds the arms of Blair.

Town 'keeper Kai Crowe was then called into action for the first time, racing off his line and making two brilliant saves to deny Pinnington, one inside the box and the other just outside with his legs.

Anderton delivered Town's first corner of the game, only for it to be headed out.

However it was only as far as Smith who volleyed it just wide.

Despite the Town pressure, the Ravens broke the deadlock on 26 minutes.

Higgins tapped in from a square ball as his side had the beating of Longridge down the left.

McLean looked for the quick-fire leveller from distance, but his effort fizzed wide.

The fast equaliser would come though, as moments later, Town won a free kick 25 yards from goal.

Anderton stepped up and curled it into the top right corner, leaving Blair helpess.

The game got a bit scrappy as the first half petered out.

Both Will Procter and IOM's Joshua Cain ended up in the book for late tackles.

Hewitt worked his way through the midfield and fired wide with just two minutes left of the first 45.

Ashe also forced Blair into a save from range, only for the 'keeper to push it out to Procter whose rebound ended up over the bar.

The linesman had his flag up anyhow.

With no changes for either side at the break, we got back underway.

High made a vital intervention to prevent Adebiyi from having a clear chance on goal in the box.

The IOM man then ended up in the book moments later.

Speaking of Connor High, what he then did next was outstanding.

After receiving it 30+ yards from goal, with nothing on, he set himself and unleashed an absolute rocket into the top left corner to send the Longridge travelling support wild.

McLean then wasn't far off doing similar.

The left back won the ball in the heart of midfield before looking to lob Blair from upwards of 40 yards.

The Ravens 'keeper kept it out though, just.

As we entered the final half hour, the bench made a double change.

Both Maddox Banks and Connor High departed for Mitch Marshall and Ben Fletcher.

Town went looking for a crucial third.

Anderton's free kick was met by the head of Trafford who nodded it towards the far corner but the IOM goalkeeper dived to his left and held onto it.

The Ridge kept on pushing though.

Ashe made his way into the area on the counter before his effort parried back out by Blair.

The youngster looked to lob the rebound over the goalkeeper, he did so, but unfortunately it ended up over the bar too.

The hosts then saw a massive change go begging as we entered the final 20 minutes.

Pinnington beat the offside trap before putting it across goal to Michael Williams, who was inches off making contact.

An eerily similar opportunity then went Town's way, with a teasing ball across goal from Smith not met by any blue shirts.

On 80 minutes, Town went to their bench for the final time, replacing Matt Van Wyk with Jordan Dainty.

Ten minutes later, Trafford was booked for a handball.

From the resulting free kick, Pinnington lashed the ball into the bottom left corner from almost the same position as Anderton's first half free kick, levelling the game again.

With 6 minutes on the board, Town made one final push.

Anderton raced in behind and lobbed it over Blair, only for the Ravens' bacon to be saved by Karl Clark who charged back and booted it off the line mid-air.

Following two more minutes of stoppage time, the referee blew the full time whistle.

A bit of frustration in the end, but a point to be fairly proud of.

We cannot thank you enough for your incredible support tonight.

There was a massive following in Douglas from the Ridge army and you certainly made yourselves heard.

Once again, thank you.

There's no rest though, with the boys set to be back at it again away at Atherton LR this Tuesday night.

We do however return home on Saturday 8th November to take on Euxton Villa in an all-Preston clash at Inglewhite Road.

Four games unbeaten now, let's keep this run going.

We spoke to chairman and stand-in manager for the night Kev to get his thoughts on the showing.

"Well overall the performance was outstanding.

"We talked before the game, obviously it's a bit different for me and the lads today with Lee and Chaz not travelling.

"It was a clash of styles, but to be fair, we've scored two good goals and they've equalised with a worldie in the last minute, fair enough.

"I've seen us lose a lot of those games over the years, the lads are devastated but they've done everything we asked of them."

You can watch the full interview here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLzvSL_ZEzo

#UpTheRidge

The Goals:

FC Isle of Man: Higgins (26'), Pinnington (90')

Longridge: Anderton (30'), High (49')

The Teams:

FC Isle of Man: Blair, Watson, Baines, WIlliams (Sherry 76'), Cain (Maitland 59'), Gelling, Booth (Clark 71'), Pinnington, Middleton (Marques 71'), Higgins, Adebiyi

Longridge: Crowe, Hewitt, Trafford, Banks (Marshall 62'), McLean, High (Fletcher 62'), Smith, Ashe, Van Wyk (Dainty 80'), Procter