Match Report: Longridge Town 7-0 Carlisle City

Isaac Sinclair’s second half hat-trick helped Town make it eight unbeaten with a 7-0 win over Carlisle City.

There were three changes from the team that beat Prestwich Heys a fortnight ago, with Adam Lawrence, George Thomason and Isaac Sinclair all coming into the starting XI in place of Ryan McKenna, Daniel Wisdom and Aaron Fleming.

The first opportunity of the game for Town came in the fourth minute, as Jay Hart played Richie Allen in, before Allen’s shot from the edge of the box whistled over the bar.

Eight minutes later, Longridge were awarded a free kick 25 yards out.

Tom Ince stepped up to take, with his shot hitting the underside of the bar before the ever-present Danny Wilkinson was able to slam it home from close range to give Town a 1-0 lead with 12 minutes gone.

Carlisle then came into the game with a series of chances to bring the score-line level.

The Cumbrian’s top scorer Robert McCartney was able to get his shot away which found the roof of the net before David Renyard had his shot deflected out for a corner which Town defended well.

After a more balanced spell for both sides, a 50-50 challenge between Ince and Ellis Pearson resulted in Ince being shown a yellow card whilst Carlisle were awarded the free-kick with five minutes to go before the break.

Renyard stepped up to take the free-kick, with his effort being pushed over by Lee Dovey.

Town’s number one was again quick off the mark when the resulting corner almost caused problems in front of the Longridge goal.

Moments later the whistle blew for half-time, with Longridge heading into the dressing room 1-0 up.

Two minutes into the second half, Town almost doubled their lead. Jay Hart got in behind the Carlisle defence and bolted forward but dragged his effort just wide from inside the box.

In the 49th minute Town were on the march again; this time Isaac Sinclair went on a skilful run before he was fouled 30 yards from goal.

Ince stepped up to take, with his shot dipping over the defence before bouncing past Stephen Townsley in the Carlisle goal and into the back of the net, doubling Town’s lead with 50 minutes played.

It wasn’t long before Longridge were three goals ahead. Six minutes after Ince’s free kick found the back of the net, Hart crossed the ball into the box after a Town corner was cleared, finding Wilkinson who was able to send the keeper the wrong way for his second of the game, making it 3-0 in the 56th minute.

That was to be the last impact Hart had on the game, with him being replaced by Paul Turner on the hour mark.

Attack after attack, Town were on a rampage, and it wasn’t long before the fourth goal.

Sinclair picked up a through ball before dancing through the Carlisle defence and rifling a left footed shot from 20 yards out into the corner of the net to make it 4-0 in the 63rd minute.

Carlisle weren’t giving up though, Renyard refused to fall to the ground after he was tackled and ran through before Joe Melling was able to put in an excellent tackle to stop the visitors getting one back.

Longridge were having a great second half across the park, and a tremendous passing move resulted in Ince threading the ball through to captain Richie Allen who took the one on one first time through the keeper’s legs to make it 5-0 in the 79th minute.

Town didn’t stop there, with Isaac Sinclair getting the sixth goal of the game in the 87th minute, and what a goal it was.

Ince was able to pick the ball up in space at the edge of the box, rolling it through to Paul Turner who in turn laid off Sinclair 18 yards out to finish well under the goalkeeper.

Many of the 196 watching supporters may have thought that would be that, but moments later young Sinclair was able to complete his second half hat-trick, slotting the ball under the keeper from close range after some great midfield play in the last minute of the game.

The final whistle blew, and Town were applauded off the field after a fantastic 7-0 win in their first of three games in a week.

Next up, Town welcome second placed AVRO to the MRG on Wednesday night for a battle between first and second in the Hallmark Security NWCFL First Division North.

See you there for a big night under the lights, kick-off 7.45pm.