Longridge surged through to the third round of the Lancashire Challenge Trophy following an impressive display of Nothern Premier Division West side Clitheroe.

The Blues lined up with a mixed side of some young faces but also some first teamers, including that of Accrington Stanley legend Sean McConville.

Town began the game well and improved massively over the course of the tie.

There was four changes from the team that drew with Charnock Richard at the weekend, as Connor Newton, Jack Anderton, Jordan Dainty and Luke Smith came in to the XI.

Jack Banks also returned on the bench following his knee issue.

Following kick off, Town started as they meant to go on.

Smith threw himself at an early cross from Anderton but could only head just wide.

Joe Adams looked to improve upon an already solid Saturday debut and went about that well.

The midfielder received it, back to goal on the edge of the box before turning past his man and firing at goal.

The Clitheroe goalkeeper Matty Hodds was equal to it however.

Jefferson Goncalves played a lovely one-two with the inform Liam Atkinson before having a Clitheroe defender fly through him in an attempt to win the ball.

Town may not have had the most desirable penalty record this season, but Joe Adams made sure not to add to it, as he squeezed the ball past Hodds to draw first blood on 17 minutes.

Unfortunately, the lead didn't last, and Town found themselves conceding a penalty of their own three minutes later, with Jack Anderton, perhaps harshly, being pulled up for a tackle on winger Dan Silver.

Sefton Gonzales grabbed his third goal of the season for the hosts as his spot kick found the top left corner, leaving Mason Walker powerless.

However this didn't setback Town at all.

Smith was close from 20 yards, as his well placed effort was tipped wide by Hodds.

The young goalkeeper's busy night continued, then denying Atkinson from a tight angle.

The hosts managed a chance of their own just after the half hour mark, as Miles Storey's goal-bound effort was blocked by Connor Newton.

Dainty then received the ball on the turn before slipping Atkinson for a half chance.

Liam managed to get a shot away but could only find the 'keeper again.

The forward then struck the post, as he looked to catch the goalkeeper out from just outside the area but nothing doing.

Dainty then lifted a cross into the box from the right hand side seconds later, it curled over everyone and rebounded off the top of the crossbar.

The hosts rode their luck but couldn't keep the rampant Ridge out for long.

Leighton Hewitt stormed forward again down the right before finding the advancing Liam Atkinson, who stroked it past Hodds and into the bottom left corner to restore Town's lead just before half time, making it 7 goals in 3 games in the process.

Town managed to look an even better side in the second half.

Ben Trafford almost connected with an Adams crossed which flashed across the face of goal just a couple of minutes into the second 45.

Atkinson received it, back to goal, before turning on a sixpence and rifling it at goal from 20 yards.

This effort also bounced back off the inside of the post.

Clitheroe's best second half chance undoubtedly came through Javaun Splatt, who somehow headed over from close range following a pinpoint cross from the right.

The attacker was seemingly looking to take his anger out on somehow, and picked youngster Leighton Hewitt to do so, of course.

As Hewitt won the ball off the attacker down the right, Splatt took issue and squared up to the youngster.

Captain for the evening Ben Trafford showed his depreciation and both ended up being booked following a scuffle.

Ashcroft then made his first change of the evening, as Lucas Wane took the place of Jefferson Goncalves.

A lovely turn from Adams in the middle of the park kickstarted a Longridge Town counter attack.

He then sent Atkinson on his way who went for the spectacular from 25 yards but it fizzed well wide.

This mattered little however, as moments later Town extended their lead.

Jordan Dainty, fresh off the back of a double nutmeg on Clitheroe captain Richie Baker, would score a goal in a similar style to that of Eric Cantona.

The Ridge won it back following the goal kick and worked it into Dainty as Atkinson laid him off.

The midfielder took it in his stride, flew past a defender and emphatically lobbed the goalkeeper, in off the post from 20 yards out.

However the Ridge weren't done there, practically from Clitheroe's kick off, Town soon won it back and Dainty send it forward to Wane.

Clitheroe defender Rouse looked to clear but Lucas Wane flew in, won it back and raced through on goal to side foot it past the advancing Hodds to give Longridge a fourth.

As The Ridge ran away with the match, Ashcroft decided to rest the lads following a brilliant attacking display, bringing off Luke Smith, Harvey Roberts, Jordan Dainty and Joe Adams.

He replaced them with Ethan Edmunson, Jacob Bridges, Lewis Richmond and Jack Banks.

Clitheroe thought they'd pulled one back as we entered the final ten minutes, but Gonzales' close range header was flagged offside.

The hosts then got it stuck at their feet and the back and Wane nicked in.

He found an angle to shoot only to see it cannon off the crossbar.

Even now, Town sought another.

Atkinson brilliantly chested a scooped pass forward from Wane down for Banks who saw a shot parried away by Hodds.

As we entered added time, Wane came close again, firing just wide of the far post as he capitalised again on defensive mix-up.

Jack Anderton then had a go from upwards of 30 yards out and that effort also came back off the post, as Town hit the woodwork for the sixth time.

The full time whistle then blew moments later following seven additional minutes.

Town are now through to the third round of the LFA Cup.

Keep an eye on our socials as we soon learn our next opponents.

A massive thank you to those who came down and supported to boys, it was great to see the Ridge out in numbers again and they undoubtedly felt that on the pitch.

We'd also like to thank Clitheroe for the hospitality and we wish them all the very best for the rest of the season.

We now look to take this win into Saturday's away game at South Liverpool.

Following this we take a week off before returning home to host Glossop North End.

#UpTheRidge

The Goals

Clitheroe: Gonzales (P 20')

Longridge: Adams (P 17'), Atkinson (39'), Dainty (72'), Wane (73')

The Teams

Clitheroe: Hodds, Burgess, Baker, Rouse, Bradbury-Allen, McConville, Jackson, Storey, Elhassan, Silver, Gonzales

Longridge: Walker, Hewitt, Trafford, Newton, Anderton, Smith (Edmunson 75'), Roberts (Bridges 75'), Dainty (Richmond 75') Adams (Banks 75'), Goncalves (Wane 69'), Atkinson