Match Report: Longridge Town 4-1 Rylands

Lee Ashcroft made two changes from the side that was narrowly beaten in the Lancashire Trophy last week with Alex Murphy and Scott Harries coming in to replace Ryan McKenna and Brad Wicks.

Tom Ince gave the hosts the lead with the first shot of the match. Town’s captain was given too much time and space and with that, Ince said thank you very much, striking the ball into the bottom right hand corner from 20 yards.

Rylands Graeme McCall was the busier of the two keepers and had a task keeping the score-line down.

Paul Turner came close to a second after being played through but his shot rifled in to the side-netting. Turner came close moments later heading a Finlay Sinclair-Smith cross onto the post with Harries coming close following up only to be denied by the Rylands stopper.

A fine duel commenced between Turner and McCall with the shot stopper denying Turner’s diving header from point blank range.

McCall denied Town’s number nine again five minutes later. Turner's strike got a touch as it went through the keeper's legs going out for a corner.

Thomason and Sinclair-Smith came close before the break, with Thomason’s deflected strike going over and Sinclair-Smith’s effort comfortable.

Rylands started the second half brightly with Freddie Potter dispossessing Thomason in an dangerous area. Potter’s near strike effort was well saved by Lee Dovey, who had very little to do in the opening 45 minutes.

But three minutes into the second half the league leaders were reduced to 10 men. Rylands skipper Garry Kenny received his marching orders receiving a second yellow after being booked just before half time.

Town looked comfortable with 11 men on both teams and looked even stronger with the man advantage. Harries and Sinclair Smith linked well before Harries’ low shot was well saved. Paul Turner was on hand to notch in his 19th goal of the season tapping home from close range.

Sinclair-Smith added a third five minutes later. Turner was clattered over after the Rylands defender tried to atone for his miscontrolled clearance. Upstepped Sinclair-Smith who rifled his freekick in far left corner out of the reach of McCall.

The hosts were out of sight 20 minutes from time when Turner added his 20th goal of the season. Ince’s strike was well saved, who else would it be on hand than Turner with another poachers finish.

Town had chances to add further goals. Substitute Elliot Pond missed from five yards out unable to adjust his feet after a perfect cross from Harries. Jon-Joe Morris had a freekick late on comfortably saved.

The league leaders pulled one back late on. George Alex with an audacious lob after seeing Lee Dovey off his line.

On Saturday, Lee Ashcroft's men travel to Merseyside to face 20th place Litherland REMYCA in a 3pm kick-off.

Town team: Dovey, Birch, Murphy, Fletcher, Schofield, Wilkinson, Harries, Thomason, Turner 52/71 (Pond), Ince 10 (Djabi), Sinclair-Smith 57 (Morris)

Unused subs: Gourley, Wicks

Litherland team: McCall, Davies (Lownsbrough), Freeman, Kenny (Red Card), Parry, Jones, Gerrard, Wolhunter, Potter (Drummond), Lomax, Scarisbrick,

Unused Subs: Shaw, Molyneux, Moran