Match Report: Litherland REMYCA 0-5 Longridge Town

Paul Turner, George Thomason, Scott Harries and a brace from captain Tom Ince got the job done for Lee Ashcroft’s side in a dominant showing at Litherland Sports Park.

Town began fast and saw their efforts rewarded early in the game as Turner opened the scoring with just nine minutes played.

Having already gone close in the opening stages, Turner benefitted from some good play by Finlay Sinclair-Smith who broke through the home side’s defence before teeing up Turner as he notched his 21st goal of the season.

Town grabbed a second on the half-hour mark as Thomason controlled a ball into the penalty area before keeping his cool to double the advantage.

That goal only highlighting the dominance Town has exerted in the game with Sinclair-Smith, Ben Fletcher and Dan Birch all having gone close prior to Thomason’s strike.

Prior to the interval, captain Ince got in on the fun with the pick of the goals as he lashed in from 25 yards, picking out the top corner to give the Ridge a 3-0 lead heading into the break.

Just four minutes after half-time and Ashcroft’s men continued to underline their superiority, as Ince added his second to put the game beyond any possible revival from the home side.

With the game getting away from Litherland, the home side’s task got even harder after the hour mark as Lewis Codling was given his marching orders.

The Litherland midfielder was sent on his way following a rash challenge on Thomason in front of the dugouts leaving the referee with no choice but to brandish the home side’s midfielder a red card.

Already up against it, Town made their man advantage count late on a Harries completed the scoring.

Substitute Elliott Pond was fouled on the edge of the box, allowing fellow sub John-Jo Morris an effort on target from the resulting free-kick which was parried into the path of Harries who completed the rout.

The three points means Longridge made it three consecutive league wins and coupled with Rylands defeat at home to Bootle sees Ashey’s men move top of the NWCFL Premier Division for the first time this season with seven wins from the opening nine games of the campaign.

Next up for the Ridge are Ashton Athletic who travelled to the MRG on Wednesday night.

Longridge: Dovey, Birch, Murphy, Fletcher, Schofield, Wilkinson, Harries, Thomason, Turner, Ince, Sinclair-Smith

Subs: Djabi, Gourney, Morris, Pond, Hunt