A poor first half display left Longridge vulnerable for defeat against Lower Breck in Liverpool on Saturday.

Ishaq Ibrar started his first game since returning from injury as new signing Joel Stringer began the match on the bench.

Captain Ben Fletcher also kept his place since his recent return.

The tone was set early as the hosts flew out the gate.

Olawumi was tackled in defence before Morris fired it over.

This should've been a warning to Longridge but it seemed as though the Ridge never learnt.

However, minutes later Marshall found space down the right before looking for Ing.

Unfortunately the forward was just short of it.

18 minutes in now and Barry was called into action for the first time as he saved McCarty's shot after the forward found himself through on goal.

Marshall was dangerous again down the right two minutes later but his cross was cleared once again.

Lower Breck's Liam Morris was yet another constant threat. He latched onto a ball on from the wing and shot over the bar after shifting it onto his left.

Barry then palmed away a shot from 20 yards out, managing to keep it goalless for the time being.

Seconds later and he saved another.

The 'keeper tipped a shot over the bar before punching away the resulting corner.

Unfortunately for Town Barry could only keep them in it for so long.

The hosts won a free kick 25 yards out after a foul by Olawumi.

The Lower Breck captain, Paul Mooney, stepped up and pinged it into the top left corner, leaving Barry with no chance.

Longridge looked to respond as Morgan Homson-Smith swung Town's first corner of the game into Cameron Gourley at the near post but it was cleared before reaching him.

Connor McCarty would then double Lower Breck's lead after poking a ball in from Salkeld at the near post.

Once again there was an attempt to respond from Longridge but Ing could only head Homson-Smith's cross safely into the arms of the goalkeeper.

Fletcher let some frustration out just before the break as he slid in on McKenna.

Morris wasn't impressed and went onto put one on Fletcher moments before the whistle.

Ashcroft made a triple change at the break with Ben Fletcher, Ishaq Ibrar and Dean Ing departing for Harrison Kay, Leighton Hewitt and Zach Clark.

Marshall, now playing on the left, hit a low driven effort at goal but saw it blocked.

It came out to McLean who searched for L.Hewitt but his cross was just over hit.

The Lower Breck 'keeper was then booked for running the clock down.

Longridge then had the ball in the net just before the hour mark through Clark but the flag was raised on the far side.

With 25 minutes left Marshall again tried to make a nuisance of himself as he drove forward and got a shot away which was blocked out for a corner.

Clark then threw it into Homson-Smith who hit a powerful shot over the bar.

5 minutes later and Paul Turner made way for Luke Smith.

Lower Breck put the icing on the cake as Connor McCarty once again squeezed an effort through the near post to grab a third.

At least Town would get one back with three minutes left of normal time as Luke Smith slammed L.Hewitt's square ball past Roberts to claim his first goal for Longridge.

Mitch Marshall was also subbed off for Joel Stringer who made his debut after joining from AFC Liverpool.

Nothing of importance happened before the full time whistle.

Confirming Lower Breck's rise to 14th place and Town's slump into 19th.

However the Ridge will regroup ahead of two important games in Garstang away on Wednesday 29th and Bury away on 2nd December.

Make sure to be a part of the big one on Saturday by getting your ticket here: https://https://ticketsource.co.uk/longridge-town-football-club

The Goals:

Lower Breck: Mooney (28'), McCarty (37', 84')

Longridge: Smith (87')

The Teams:

Lower Breck line-up: Roberts, Fitzgerald, Dobie, Mooney, McKenna, Millington, Morris (Pepper 70'), McNamara (Walsh 70'), Kyffin, Salkeld, McCarty

Longridge line-up: Barry, Marshall (Stringer 85'), Gourley, Olawumi, McLean, Fletcher (Kay 46'), Harries, Homson-Smith, Turner (Smith 69'), Ibrar (L.Hewitt 46'), Ing (Clark 46')