Longridge Town were pegged back from 2-0 up to draw away at South Liverpool.

Goals from Oscar Wright and Will Procter had Town thinking they were cruising.

However they were dragged back level by a persistent South side.

With manager Lee Ashcroft forced into a handful of changes, Yuvi Dewan, Oscar Wright and Ethan Gough came into the XI.

The latter rejoins us from Barnoldswick after departing Town in 2022.

Liam Atkinson took the captains armband as a result.

Town got off to the perfect start.

Wright received it down the left before charging into the area and seeing his effort deflect past the goalkeeper to draw early blood.

The hosts looked for an instant response but Maher fired wide.

Leighton Hewitt forced a good save out of South 'keeper Trueman as the game became a bit end to end.

A strange moment then as with the ball played forward to Procter, the offside flag was raised against the attacker.

However the no.11 left it, with Wright getting there first before being bundled over in the box.

After a quick chat with his linesman, the referee stuck with the initial offside call.

Gough then whipped a brilliant free kick onto the head of Atkinson who powered it goalwards.

However the goalkeeper Trueman tipped it wide tremendously.

The first booking of the game went the way of South defender Fidan Hajdari for a rash challenge on Procter 25 yards from goal.

Jack Anderton stepped up and curled it into the arms of Trueman.

Wright then recieved the first yellow for Town, being booked for a poor challenge on the half-way.

Anderton bent a beautiful ball round the back of the South defence leaving Hewitt to race into a one-on-one with Trueman.

Once again, the goalkeeper held firm and denied him.

Town kept the pressure on as the home side looked to cleared their lines.

Smith pickpocketed Maher down the left before pulling it across goal, leaving Procter to mop up and to double Town's lead.

Atkinson smashed a powerful volley onto the inside of the post as Town came within inches of a third.

With no changes for either side at half time, e got back underway.

Hewitt saw another effort pushed away from goal by Trueman as Town attacked early on.

However, a South Liverpool long throw fell into the both of Maher, who chested and volleyed it into the top corner out of nowhere to make it game on.

This gave the hosts confidence and a platform.

Frost headed just wide with their spell continuing.

Atkinson then had two efforts wide and over respectively in quick succession.

Town then made their first change, with Jack Arrowsmith replacing Dewan.

The winger was immediately booked for a high challenge on half-way.

However he almost more than made up for it, cutting inside from the right and shooting into the goalkeeper's arms.

The home side then pulled level from a scramble, as Osfio managed to keep it alive, pulling it back for Weaver who tapped in at the far post.

Town responded with a change, replacing Wright with Harvey Forbes.

However the hosts were in the ascendancy, with Town struggling to get a foot on the ball.

Ben Trafford replaced Hewitt with five minutes left.

Brier made a great save with his legs to keep out Weaver with the forward fashioning a chance from nothing.

Town had two late chance to snatch a winner in stoppage time.

Procter volleyed wide as Town broke forward from a South Liverpool corner.

Arrowsmith cut inside and shot into the goalkeeper's arms in the dying stages.

After the four additional minutes of added time, the referee called for full time.

A disappointing result but many positives still to take.

A massive thank you for your terrific support today.

It was great to see such a following on such a miserable and wet day.

We go again on Tuesday away at Charnock Richard and then Saturday at home to Prestwich Heys on Valentines Day.

Thank you for the support.

The Goals

South Liverpool: Maher (52'), Weaver (73')

Longridge: Wright (4'), Procter (40')

The Teams

South Liverpool: Trueman, Maher, Hajdari, Bentley, Griffiths, Smith, Lloyd, Abdi, Mullally, Osifo, Frost

Longridge: Brier, Dewan (Arrowsmith 66'), Coar, Muir, Anderton, Gough, Smith, Hewitt (Trafford 84'), Wright (Forbes 78'), Procter, Atkinson