Match Report: Longridge Town 3-2 Charnock Richard

Paul Turner took his tally up to eight goals for the season as Lee Ashcroft’s men defeated Charnock Richard for the first time in his tenure - a great confidence booster ahead of Saturday’s massive FA Cup tie.

Turner grabbed his first, profiting from a richochet when Ben Ascroft tried to stop the young forward only for it to cannon back off him into the net. Only minutes before this Charnock should have taken the lead at the MRG when prolific striker Carl Grimshaw missed an open goal, benefiting from a mistake from Dovey but he managed to hit the post rather than see the back of the net bulge.

The Charnock forward atoned for his miss three minutes later after converting a penalty. Turner added two more assisted by Dan Birch before Grimshaw pulled one back in a game that could have had plenty more goals.

Town started the brighter and Finlay Sinclair-Smith thought he had opened the scoring after three minutes but saw his effort ruled out for offside. The wideman looked dangerous flashing the ball across goal.

Charnock will be looking back at the Grimshaw effort and wonder how they didn’t take the lead. Ben Ascroft’s long ball upfield looped over Dovey and the front man saw his effort hit the post to the joy of the majority of the 197 supporters in attendance.

The hosts continued to press forward and Danny Wilks found Turner who saw some good fortune about his finish.

Three minutes later Charnock equalised after Jack Kay was brought down by the Longridge stopper. Grimshaw stepped up and confidently dispatched the spot kick sending Dovey the wrong way.

Eight minutes before the break, Matt Davision misplaced his pass on the halfway line allowing Longridge to go on the counter. Flowing football from the hosts was finished by a diving header from Turner for his second of the match after a fine delivery from Dan Birch.

On the hour mark Birch assissted Turner for his hat-trick. A low cross, Turner delayed his shot before placing the ball into the back of the net to make it 3-1.

Charnock looked dangerous in the second half and finally pulled a goal back after Grimshaw was slipped through by Lewis Haydock and fired into the roof of the net.

Town looked good on the break and a fantastic triple save from Ascroft kept the score at 3-2. The Charnock stopper denied Tom Ince, Turner and Birch in quick succession and was called upon again late on to make saves from a Sinclair- Smith drive and an Alex Murphy strike.

Town head to Mossie park and look to build on this victory having never won at Charnock as they look to progress into the next round of the FA Cup on Saturday with a 3pm kick-off scheduled.

Town Team: Dovey, Birch, Carsley, Linighan (Lawrence) , Tucker, Tomason, Wicks, Wilkinson (Fletcher), Turner 20/37/60 (Murphy), Ince, Sinclair-Smith

Unused Subs: Morris, Hunt

Charnock Team: Ascroft, Bibby, Walker, Haydock, Schofield (O’Farrell), Morris (Oxley), Davison, Fairhurst, Grimshaw 23/64, Kay, Reagan

Unused Subs: McNally