There was just one change to the side that came up short to Chadderton, with Jacob Bridges returning to the starting XI, filling in at centre half, covering Town's injuries.

The match started as it meant to go on, hectic, almost like a basketball match.

Longridge looked to open the scoring with just two minutes on the clock, as Matt Van Wyk beat Walder down the right before squaring it across goal to Liam Atkinson, who unfortunately just got the ball stuck under his feet, unable to get his shot off until Ramsbottom cleared.

There was a warning of things to come for Town, as a corner dropped at the feet of Ramsbottom right back Radcliffe who struck the post on the volley from 15 yards out.

Loanne goalkeeper Mason Walker then made his first save of a busy afternoon, as he brilliantly tipped a Robert Wilson free kick behind for a corner.

However, with Town not as lucky as the first time, Oscar Radcliffe headed home through a crowd of bodies to break the deadlock on 12 minutes.

Down but not out, Town looked for a response, as Van Wyk dribbled past a Rammy midfielder before being brought down.

Harvey Roberts' free kick shot was straight into the wall.

It then took until the 34th minute for something of note to happen as both sides battled for possession, struggling to break each other down.

However, the chance fell to Longridge as Van Wyk latched onto a long ball and raced through on goal.

With a defender to his right and the goalkeeper standing tall, he could only drag his effort wide of the near post.

Just before the half time whistle, the only other shot came from Jordan Dainty, whose 25 yard effort flew over the bar.

At the break, ticket number 5229 won our half time pound for the ground jackpot of £78.

A big thank you to those who entered and for their continued support of the club fundraiser.

As the second half kicked off, it was clear that the words said by Ashcroft had been taken on board by the young lads.

Liam Atkinson's first shot of the half was blocked as he ran onto a long ball down the right.

However, after a decent spell of possession for Longridge, it was thanks to Walker that they now weren't two behind.

Rammy captain Andrew Teague thought his close range effort had crossed the line, but as the officials confirmed, Walker had clawed it off the line as it rapidly sped towards the net.

Charlie Alston also blocked a goal bound effort almost on the line moments later.

This was almost a turning point for Longridge, as two minutes later, they were level.

McLean pinged it across the box for Atkinson whose chest down was met by Hewitt who wonderfully volleyed it into the bottom corner from the edge of the box to equalise.

Ashey's men weren't done there.

Hewitt took it past his man and fired at goal from 25 yards, it deflected wide for a corner.

Roberts' corner was over everyone and out.

Ramsbottom managed a rare attack from this point, with Teague seeing another effort parried away by Walker, this time with his head.

On 75 minutes, Van Wyk's high press won Town the ball back, as he laid off Atkinson whose shot deflected away for another corner.

The delivery this time from McLean, was pinpoint, as Ben Trafford rose the highest to power the header into the roof of the net, giving Town a precious lead.

Ramsbottom looked for an immediate response but it was bodies on the line as the Longridge lads threw themselves infront of another effort from Teague.

Ashcroft then made a double change to seemed to spark some life back into Longridge, as Charlie Alston and Jordan Dainty were both replaced by Jack Banks and Lewis Richmond with ten minutes left to play.

Luke Smith immediately took an effort that had the ground on it's feet, as some appeared to already be celebrating before noticing it had be tipped wide by Rammy's Rose.

Moments later and Van Wyk came close as he slid an effort under the advancing goalkeeper, but it was cleared off the line by a tracking back Rammy defender.

Another massive substitution was then made by Ashcroft, bringing on Jack Anderton for Matt Van Wyk.

Hewitt nicked it off Rams substitute Hayhurst, before sending a long searching ball up to Liam Atkinson but the goalkeeper made it there just in the nick of time to clear.

It was then McLean's turned to disposes a Rammy player as he pickpocketed Radcliffe, before surging down the left and crossing into Banks who just couldn't get his shot off before the visitors cleared.

Town were desperate for that third goal to kill the game off, and in the 3rd minute off 4 added on minutes, they got their wish.

Jack Anderton with some unbelievable pressing and hard work chased the ball all the way back from the Rammy midfield to the goalkeeper, who disturbed by the attacker's presence, got his clearance all wrong, and lofted it up into the air.

Somehow, Anderton got his head on it and flicked it past the goalkeeper who was looking to claim it, only for it to roll into the back of the net, handing Town the victory.

About a minute later the full time whistle was blown, to the relief of the brilliant Longridge faithful, who cheered the lads off as we rose into 7th place, now two points behind the league leaders.

A brilliant and well deserved reception, as well as three points!

The Ridge now travel to Pilkington on Wednesday 4th September for their first away day on English soil.

Following this they return home to Inglewhite Road to face West Didsbury & Chorlton.

A big thank you for the support recently, evidently, it makes a massive difference.

The Goals

Longridge: Hewitt (54'), Trafford (75'), Anderton (90+3')

Ramsbottom: Radcliffe (12')

The Teams

Longridge: Walker, Alston (Banks 80'), Bridges, Trafford, McLean, Smith, Dainty (Richmond 80'), Roberts, Hewitt, Van Wyk (Anderton 84'), Atkinson

Ramsbottom: Rose, Radcliffe, Teague, S.Sephton, Walder, Meadowcroft (Hayhurst 57'), L.Septon, Whyte, Hoyle (Tinker 78'), Wilson, Camara (Turner 62') (McEvoy 83')