Match Report: Longridge Town 3-1 Chadderton

Tom Ince put in a superb performance for Longridge as Town won their 5th game in succession to finally overcome Chadderton 3-1 at The MRG yesterday.

Brad Wicks came into the starting XI in place of the injured Ben Fletcher, that being the only change to the side that beat AFC Darwen 6-2 last Saturday.

Striker Jay Hart got Town’s first finishing from 18 yards with a left foot finish after good work interchanging with Allen and Ince. For once Longridge had started well, Jay’s goal making it 1-0 after just six minutes.

This seemed to knock the wind out of Chaddys sails a bit and, after starting brightly, stood off Town allowing Ince and Wicks to dominate the ball in the middle of the pitch.

Dovey in the Town goal had little to do at this stage but Dale Latham in the Chadderton nets was keeping his side in the game, saving well from Ince and Hart.

Danny Wilkinson then had a goal disallowed for offside in a crowded goal mouth before Captain Richie Allen finally added the second goal on 31 minutes.

Ince again worked the ball well with the striking pair of Hart and Allen before Richie finished low to Latham’s right to make it 2-0.

It should have been more as half time approached but Chadderton defended manfully, as Town over elaborated a little trying to walk the back into the net. 2-0 at half time.

The visitors made two changes at the break with Whalley and Lyons replacing the front two of Camara and Kelly, and both had an impact in the second period.

The next goal would be vital and in the 46th minute Latham somehow kept out Wilkinson’s close range effort with his feet, after a superb passing move with Ince again at the heart of things.

Two minutes later it was 3-0, Ince getting the goal his performance deserved. The tireless Danny Gardner beat his man on the right before drifting a beautiful cross the far post. Ince couldn’t miss, and nodded the ball into the net from a yard out. 3-0, and that should have been game over.

It wasn’t to be however, Chadderton were a different side this half with Ryan Lyons looking sdangerous down the right hand side, and Whalley giving them a cutting edge that they had been lacking in the first half.

At the other end Town were playing some great passing football without the end product however, and the game became very open with Chadderton showing more belief.

They got a goal back just short of the hour mark as Lyons raced down the right and with a man over in the middle, a good passing move led to Bailey Whalley finishing past Dovey to make it 3-1, and give the visitors some hope.

Immediately from the kick off Ince hit the post when through on goal, after a brilliant move, again involving Ince and Allen. Town’s front three were definitely on their game, but the visitors were still in it.

Dovey saved comfortably from Whalley and Jordan Butterworth saw his free kick go just over the bar, in what was a competitive second 45 minutes.

Isaac Sinclair, Paul Turner, and debutant Adam Lawrence all got game time in the last 25 minutes as Ashey looked to freshen things up but still Town couldn’t get the elusive fourth goal.

Latham again made an unbelievable save from Jay Hart with 10 minutes remaining, saving from point blank range. It was such a good save that Hart embraced the Chadderton keeper in acknowledgment.

As the whistle went to end the game both sides were applauded from the field, as the 125 hardy souls who had braved the freezing conditions appreciated yet another good game, and yet another good performance from Town.