Match Report: Longridge Town 2-1 Northwich Victoria

Conor Linighan returned to the starting XI whilst Troy Carsley made the bench after six weeks on the side-lines.

The away side were ahead in the opening ten minutes, but a Paul Turner goal two minutes before the interval followed by an Elliot Pond screamer ensured victory on a cold October night at the Mike Riding Ground in front of a crowd of 202.

Vics were the side that came out firing in the first minute with a great chance to go ahead but Lee Dovey was there with a brilliant save to deny Steve Wilkes’ men.

Six minutes later though, the visitors were ahead. Ryan Winder broke forward and squared the ball across the goal, finding Saul Henderson who was there to tap the ball home.

With just over half an hour played, Pond found Turner in the box, but the young striker’s shot could only whistle wide of the post.

The chances continued for Lee Ashcroft’s men. Scott Harries made a good run, finding Pond who drilled his shot goal wards only for Danny Taberner in the Vics goal to collect.

Town finally struck two minutes before half time. The instrumental Pond laid off Turner who tucked the ball through Taberner’s legs for his 23rd goal of the season and to deservedly send his side in level at the break.

The Ridge were much more dominant coming out in the second half with a plethora of chances from set plays, but the visiting side stood firm.

Vics’ number eight Harvey Whyte gave Town a man advantage for ten minutes on the hour mark as the referee directed him to the sin bin for dissent.

Minutes later, Town took advantage of having an extra man on the field and went ahead and did so in style!

Pond received the ball on the turn and fired the ball into the top right-hand corner from 25 yards out, leaving Taberner with no chance.

The game started to heat up in the final ten minutes of the game with the visitors looking to leave the MRG with at least a point. Jamie Reed was one on one with Dovey, but his shot hit the post before Harries charged up the other end looking to seal victory for Town but saw his effort saved.

Vics found the goalposts again with a Reed free kick which ended up in the back of the net but to the relief of the Longridge faithful, the goal was ruled out.

Town stood firm and defended well as the game entered stoppage time, with Vics giving it everything they had to find the equaliser with the seconds ticking away.

After five minutes of injury time the referee blew the final whistle which saw Town begin a busy fortnight of home fixtures with a great win over a good Northwich Victoria side.

Next up for Lee Ashcroft’s men is the visit of Thornaby in the Second Round of the Buildbase FA Vase on Saturday in a 3pm kick-off.

Longridge Town: Dovey, Birch, Wilkinson, Linighan, Schofield, Thomason, Harries (Gourley), Fletcher (Carsley), Turner 43 (Morris), Ince (C), Pond 66
Subs not used: McKenna, Wicks

Northwich Victoria: Taberner, Camozzi (C), Barski, Winder, Kenny, Wilson, Reed, Whyte (Greenop), Henderson 7 (R. Doran), Kilifin (Dorney), Clarke
Subs not used: Vinten, P. Doran