Longridge left it late once again, as Liam Atkinson completed his hat-trick with one of the last kicks of the game to seal a huge three points for his side in a PR derby.

Town had been pegged back in stoppage time, but the Ridge banded together and flew forward to cause scenes at Inglewhite Road.

This continued their excellent home form, with the Ridge now up to 3rd in the home table.

Jack Anderton got the other goal, equalising before half time.

Goalkeeper Kai Crowe also saved a penalty just after the hour mark.

Talk about action packed, they really do put us through the wringer.

Ashcroft & co made a couple of changes to the XI that saw narrow defeat away to Atherton LR.

Tom McCann took the place of Leighton Hewitt who missed out through suspension.

Whilst debutant Lewis Coulton started, in place of Ben Trafford.

After an impeccable moment of silence for rememberance, Euxton Villa kicked us off.

From the first minute it was clear that Town were up against it.

The clash of styles playing a massive part, with Euxton's coming out on top in the physical battles.

Ryan McLean made an incredible goal line clearance after a Faris Muhammed effort had looked to be flying into the far corner.

Crowe did well to tip a Matthew Olosunde effort onto the bar before gathering.

Despite Town seemingly holding the line, the visitors drew first blood.

Rajwinder Uppal raced onto a long ball from the Euxton defence, and slid it through the legs of the advancing Crowe.

Town went in search of a leveller soon after though, with McLean finding Atkinson whose deflected effort bounced just wide of the far post.

Anderton did well to firm the challenge of two defenders before laying off Luke Smith, who dragged his shot wide.

However the equaliser would come, as Anderton worked his way across the box to find space before passing it into the far corner.

Not long later, half time came.

At the break, ticket no.13358 won the half time pound for the ground jackpot of £50.

A massive thank you for those who entered today, incredible support.

Town came out after a substitution, replacing Matt Van Wyk with Mason McKay.

The visitors attacked again early, but Uppal's effort nestled in the side netting.

Josh Ashe also drove wide, but Town got a bit of impotence from him.

Town won their first corner of the second half.

Anderton's pinpoint delivery was glanced off the head of Atkinson, onto the crossbar, onto the post and into the side netting inside the goal, putting Town ahead for the first time.

Villa captain Luke Gibson looked to pull his level back on level terms but his ferocious header was pushed round the post by Crowe.

With the resulting corner still bouncing around the box, a trailing leg from McLean tripped Euxton substitute Singleton, resulting in the referee pointing for a spot kick.

Uppal looked to place it in the left hand corner, but Crowe got down fast to parry it back out.

Despite that, Singleton would head home to level it up two minutes later.

Another two minutes later, Town regained the lead again.

McLean's powerful effort was fumbled by Euxton goalkeeper Lombard, leaving Atkinson an empty net to tap into.

The Town bench responded with a double change, as Fletcher and Ashe departing for Connor High and Will Procter.

Atkinson held it up before laying off Anderton who curled a trademark left footed effort just inches wide of the post.

Town then began to grow even more, as a McKay effort from 20 yards bent onto the roof of the net.

Longridge broke fast on 80 minutes.

Smith's effort was tipped away by Lombard, it dropped towards the feet of Atkinson who controlled it and moved it onto his right foot whilst under the pressure of Ben Reader, but his effort would be blocked.

Town then made their final changes.

McCann and Smith made way for Ben Trafford and Ethan Edmundson.

McKay made a nuisance of himself again, making his way down the left before crossing into Anderton whose close range header was saved by a diving Lombard.

With five minutes of stoppage time announced, Town needed to see it out.

However their fears came true.

Anderton was coming away with the ball but was seemingly tripped from behind, but the game carried on.

Town frustration would get even worse with Singleton cutting inside and curling a well struck effort into the far corner.

Despite that, Town flew forward, getting bodies up in an attempt to win it.

Procter received it on the edge of the box before shooting just over the top right corner.

With ten seconds left, McLean galloped down the left hand side and bent a wonderful cross over the top of the Euxton defence.

Atkinson's powerful downward header squeezed it's way past Lombard to send Inglewhite Road into raptures.

Town then got bodies the other way, defending for dear life.

It would pay off, with the referee blowing full time.

Another huge three points that puts Longridge back up to 10th in the table.

Whilst we mustn't get carried away, it's hard not to.

Another late winner to add to the many already this season.... in November.

Not to mention that Liam Atkinson is up to 19 goals.

Nineteen.

This follows almost two months out too.

Groundhopper extraordinaire and mascot today Carter (puts a pin in it) unsurprisingly chose Liam as his MOTM today.

Assistant Manager Charlie Russell reiterated the older point.

"I think we've areas to work on, but taking three points is the main outcome.

"Credit to the lads to show a bit of fight, to keep going forward and to show a bit of character and desire.

"The never say die attitude is ultimately what wins you games, at any level.

"We won't get carried away with it, but we've definitely got to maintain this home form.

"It's been poor away, but we'll try and build on it and roll on Tuesday."

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

A massive thank you for your terrific support today.

The next home game is on Tuesday 18th November, when we get our LFA Cup season underway.

With a good campaign last year, why can't we challenge again?

#UpTheRidge

The Goals:

Longridge: Anderton (40'), Atkinson (60', 68', 90+5')

Euxton Villa: Uppal (19'), Singleton (66', 90+2')

The Teams:

Longridge: Crowe, McCann (Trafford 83'), Marshall, McLean, Fletcher (High 69'), Smith (Edmundson 83'), Ashe (Procter 69'), Anderton, Van Wyk (McKay 46'), Atkinson

Euxton Villa: Lombard, Wyers-Roebuck, Gibson, Reader, Lewis, Tait (Shorrock 74'), Ince (Colquhoun 85'), Darley, Olosunde (Singleton 56'), Muhammed (Swarbrick 85') Uppal (Bentham 74')