A disappointing second 45 saw the Ridge fall to a heavy defeat in Manchester.

Ethan Gough scored directly from a corner to pull Town level after they went behind early doors.

However two goals in quick succession around the hour mark saw Irlam begin to pull away.

They then completed the scoring with ten minutes left to keep their play-off charge up.

There was one changed to the Town side from last week, with debutant Ryan Katumba coming in to join Will Procter in attack.

Daniel Wilkinson captained the side.

As mentioned, the home side set the tone early.

An inswinging corner was blown towards goal by the wild wind, leaving Kai Crowe unable to catch it.

Conal Larkin reacted fastest to poke his side infront on 12 minutes.

The Blueboys then came close to a second four minutes later.

Striker Alberto Serra rolled wide in a one-on-one under heavy pressure from Wilkinson.

Katumba turned his man down the left before seeing his cross poked out for a corner.

Gough's inswinged, potentially helped by the wind, curled straight into the goal, pulling Town level.

This helped Gough to begin imposing himself on the game.

Five minutes later, his 20 yard free kick dropped just wide of the goal.

The defensive midfielder then did well to win it back in midfield and drive forward.

He saw the gap and went for goal, only for his effort to bounce back off the post.

Irlam's John Main was the first to be sin-binned just before half time.

Crazily, he wasn't the last.

Town began the second half with intent.

A lovely spell of possession ended with Leighton Hewitt shooting over the bar.

Not long after Main made his way back to the field, the hosts retook the lead.

A shot bounced up off a Town player and was nodded home by Serra.

The Blues then extended their lead, as John Johnston galloped down the right before firing past Crowe two minutes later.

Lee Ashcroft responded with a triple change.

Luke Smith, Josh Ashe and Will Procter made way for Ben Fletcher, Lucas Wane and Paul Turner.

Katumba looked to reduced the deficit, beating his man before going for goal with the ball bobbling.

His effort bounced wide of the far post.

A Town corner fell into the path of Gough roughly 10 yards out, but his powerful effort flew over.

Substitute Josh Wood headed home a fourth on 80 minutes to complete the rout.

After a promising debut, Katumba departed for Carson Greaves.

Hewitt came close again, firing just over the top right corner.

In stoppage time, Irlam's Billy Hasler-Cregg was sin-binned, the full time whistle was blown soon after.

Town now go in search of a first win in 5 games on Tuesday night.

We are also hoping that Gough will not join the ever-growing injury list after doing a fair bit of hobbling towards the end of the game.

The Ridge host Padiham on Tuesday 31st March at 7:45pm.

We hope to see you join us, help us cheer on the boys and push us towards getting out of this rut.

Thank you for your support today.

#UpTheRidge

The Goals:

Irlam: Larkin (9'), Serra (59'), Johnston (61'), Wood (80')

Longridge: Gough (21')

The Teams:

Irlam: Wynne, Larkin, Holt, Davidson, Wheeler, Williams, Cartwright (Wood 71'), Mitchell (Hasler-Cregg 34'), Johnston (Henry 84'), Main (Everton 69'), Serra (Sandle 76')

Longridge: Crowe, Hewitt, Blake, Wilkinson, Megson, Anderton, Gough, Smith (Fletcher 70'), Ashe (Wane 70') Procter (Turner 70'), Katumba (Greaves 80')