Despite an even first half, Town hit the front in the second 45, following on from an Oscar Wright opener, with a goal from Luke Smith and two stunners courtesy of Ryan McLean and Leighton Hewitt.

The game marked a third straight win in a row as well as a second clean sheet on the bounce.

This win raises the Ridge up to 9th place in the NWCFL Premier Division.

There were three changes to the XI that overcame Litherland last week, with Connor High, Josh Ashe and debutant Oscar Wright coming in.

Toby Coar made his Inglewhite Road debut after ball-boying here several years ago, and didn't he mark it with a good performance.

Before kick off, striker Liam Atkinson received his NWCFL November player of the month award.

Well deserved, Liam.

Pilkington then got the game underway.

High saw an early sight of goal from distance, but his effort flew over the bar.

Atkinson then rolled an effort into the arms of Pilkington goalkeeper Harry Paul Campbell after leading a counter attack.

The visiting side then had a flurry of chances.

The first through Jack Pearce, but a strong hand from Charlie Brier tipped it over the bar.

Town then threw bodies on the line to keep it out from the resulting corner.

It dropped to Gilchrist who fired at goal, Brier parried it out, only for it to be stabbed past him, only for Jack Anderton to smash it off the goalline.

Kyle Robinson-Murray then saw two effort fly wide and over respectively.

A low driven effort from High was then gathered by Campbell.

Smith then lashed it over from range as Town began to grow into the game.

The growing would then turn into a goal, as Anderton saw his effort come back off the post, only for Wright to bundle it home at the back post.

The half time whistle was then blown, with Town going into the break ahead despite a fairly even first half.

As soon as the second 45 began, it was that whatever was said in the dressing room worked.

A close range header from Smith was pushed out by Campbell just a minute into the second half.

However it wouldn't deter him, a few minutes later he'd get his goal.

With an Atkinson effort saved and cleared, it would go only as far as Smith who rifled it straight into the bottom right corner.

Town then had to do some defending, but a superb sliding challenge from Joshua Muir prevented a close range effort.

McLean plucked a diagonal switch from Hewitt out of the sky, glided past his man but fired into the arms of the goalkeeper.

Town then made their first change of the evening, with the captain Ben Fletcher replacing Oscar Wright.

Hewitt then crossed into the danger zone, it met the arms of the Pilks goalkeeper but it was dropped into the path of Anderton.

The attacker belted it towards what seemed like an open goal, only for an outstanding block from Arun Aujla sent it over the bar.

Anderton then made way for Will Procter.

A cross turned shot from Ashe then cracked against the Pilkington post.

Both sides were then battling for the ball on the half-way line with ten minutes left to play.

Ryan McLean chested a long ball down from the Pilkington goalkeeper on half-way before hitting a looping volley over the stranded goalkeeper and into the back of the net.

Scenes.

On what would've been his Grandma's birthday, it was not only a stunning goal, but a beautiful moment.

Following the celebrations, Town then made their final changes.

High and Ashe made way for Muhammed Haji and Matt Van Wyk.

Van Wyk almost got the scoresheet immediately, forcing a great save out of Campbell from close range.

Toby Coar then came close, heading the resulting corner just inches wide of the far post, however it would earn a cheer from the Ridge faithful after landing in the nearest bin.

Superb.

Town weren't content with just three though, throwing bodies forward.

A fierce strike from Haji bounced back off the crossbar from 25 yards.

Five added minutes were then announced at the end of the game.

The action wouldn't end there either.

Hewitt received it 25 yards out, took one look up and bent it into the top right corner to complete the scoring.

Just over a minute later and the full time whistled blew.

A massive thank you for your incredible support tonight.

Town are up to 3rd in the form table, whatever is being done is working.

Your support on top of that is making all the difference.

We can't wait to see you back at Inglewhite Road for the home game against promotion hunting Ramsbottom United on Saturday 27th December at 3pm.

We spoke to assistant manager Charlie Russell after the game:

"It's a very happy dressing room, I think the second half made it a happy dressing room.

"Fair play to them (Pilkington), they defended well, they attacked well and they made it really difficult for us in the first half, but we've got on top in the second half and relaxed a little bit.

"We came out of the blocks and the quality in the second half, anyone that's come to watch that game today will say that we were very dominant."

You can watch the full interview here: https://youtu.be/YfEYUV154Ik?si=Un-6TcLolFxKsmE7

We also caught up with Ryan McLean following his incredible performance and unbelievable goal:

"First half we were slow, we couldn't really get the intensity right but second half we were bang at it.

"It's a good feeling at the minute, the boys are flying and we're high on confidence.

"It's one of them, I've just seen the 'keeper off his line, I've hit it and it's gone in.

"Look, Ashey and Chaz are class, the sessions that they do, the belief that they've got in the squad, they just want us to win every week and play football like we do, and we've shown that today."

You can also watch that interview here: https://youtu.be/1YPBXgaekL4?si=mvxWwfluITP0C8dk

Once again, a massive thank you for your incredible support.

The Goals

Longridge: Wright (45'), Smith (52'), McLean (79'), Hewitt (90+3')

Pilkington: N/A

The Teams

Longridge: Brier, Hewitt, Coar, Muir, McLean, High (Haji 82'), Smith (Greaves 82'), Ashe (Van Wyk 82'), Anderton (Procter 75'), Wright (Fletcher 69'), Atkinson

Pilkington: Campbell, Aujla (Owen 73'), Doran, Tierney, Monthe, Howell, Bott (Skinner 13'), Pearce, McAuley, Robinson-Murray (Patrick 49'), Glichrist