Padiham advanced to the final four of the LFA Cup at the expense of a grafting Longridge Town.

Town initially led through a scorching Luke Smith strike.

However a quick turnaround saw the hosts lead before the half hour mark.

Town levelled just before half time but the Storks would go on to win the game with the last kick of the quarter final tie.

There was three changes from last week's game, with Mitch Marshall returning from his long term injury.

New boys Miller Megson and Lucas Wane came in for their debuts, or second debuts in Lucas' case.

Padiham got the tie underway at 7:45pm.

The game got off to a quick-fire start as Luke Smith rifled into the bottom corner from the edge of the box with his left foot.

However, just seven minutes later the home side were level.

Town were caught in possession at the back, leaving Freddie Machell to pick out the top corner from just inside the penalty area.

Kai Crowe then made his first save of the evening, throwing himself and holding a powerful close range volley from Jack Gooden.

Machell then came close again, shooting wide from range as Town were still looking to recover from the earlier setback.

However, they didn't do it quick enough.

Jack Price connected with a cross from the right to slid it under Crowe and turn the game on it's head.

Josh Ashe came close to levelling it again, but after shrugging off a firm challenge on half-way and driving forward, his effort dipped just wide of the top right corner.

Crowe then made another fantastic save, tipping over a dipping header from a long throw in with his fingertips.

Town managed to level it back up just before half time.

Ashe found Marshall down the right and the full back smashed it across the six yard box, only for Padiham's Machell to blast it past his own goalkeeper.

There would be one more chance before half time and it would go to the Storks.

Unwin raced onto a ball down the left before cutting in and firing just inches wide of the far post.

In the second half, Marshall made way for Yuvi Dewan just before the hour mark.

Ashe managed to win it back before shooting not far wide from 25 yards moments later.

Wane won a corner via a deflected effort.

Gough's resulting corner fell towards Procter who stabbed it goalwards but fast reactions from Hamnett prevented Town taking the lead.

Dewan was then in the referee's book for dragging down a countering Machell 25 yards from goal.

The resulting free kick was powered goalwards by Oliver Robert, but pushed wide by Crowe.

Ethan Edmundson then replaced Will Procter.

Ashe sent the ball over the Jack Anderton who plucked it out of the sky and then went for the spectacular volley but it rose over the ball.

Price then had the ball in the net again, but the offside flag was raised long before.

With Wane then being dragged down 25 yards from goal, Gough stepped up and curled it into the arms of Hamnett.

The hosts then enjoyed a late flurry of chances, but Crowe tipped then both over the bar superbly.

Jakub Heba then hit the post for Padiham as Town managed to clear their lines.

With 5 additional minutes now almost up, a deep cross was headed home by Price to send Padiham through.

The full time whistle then blew before Longridge had the chance to kick off.

A massive thank you for your incredible support tonight.

It was brilliant to see such numbers on a Tuesday night and we cannot thank you enough for how you pushed the boys on.

As for the lads, we couldn't have asked anymore from them.

We go again on Saturday 28th February when we travel to Glossop North End.

A reminder that spaces are still available for the coach that will depart Inglewhite Road at 11:30am.

More details here:

We go again.

#UpTheRidge

The Goals

Padiham: Price (23', 90+5'), Machell (10')

Longridge: Smith (4'), Machell (OG, 43')

The Teams

Padiham: Hamnett, Price, Sherlock, Makinson, Gooden (Jenkins 80'), Pugh (Morton 67'), Machell (Ayres 80'), Boyd, Unwin, Hebda, Davies (Roberts 67')

Longridge: Crowe, Marshall (Dewan 56'), Winstanley, Megson, Gough, Smith, Ashe, Anderton, Wane, Procter (Edmundson 72')