The Ridge had to wait until stoppage time to snatch the leveller when they finally broke down the stubborn nine man Colne defence.

Jude Entwistle scored his second goal in as many games to draw first blood inside 20 minutes.

However Liam Atkinson continued his fine form, making it 19 goals for the season after finding the bottom corner in the second minute of stoppage time.

With two points from their last two games, Town can now build on stopping the rot before Saturday's away game at bottom of the table Prestwich Heys.

There were a few changes to the side as Kier Barry made his second debut in goal.

New boys Finley Devenney and Jenson Carter made the starting XI and the bench respectively.

Meanwhile Ben Fletcher and Owen Watkinson returned from their long term injuries to the XI.

The game started quickly, with Colne pressing high from the first whistle.

However, Town were there to meet them.

The Ridge had a solid spell just before the tenth minute where both Atkinson and Anderton had good crosses into the area which no blue shirt to connect with it.

Colne's Cliffe hit a 25 yard free kick well but Barry did well to tip it over the crossbar.

The resulting corner was drifted in by Walker and headed past Barry and into the back of the net by Entwistle to break the deadlock on 20 minutes.

Town looked to respond quickly as Marshall picked out Atkinson, whose close range effort was kept out by Turner in the Colne goal.

A booking a piece from this point with Town's Devenney and Colne's Walker being cautioned.

Turner was then on hand for Colne again as Atkinson's cross turned shot was beaten away from the top corner by Turner.

Ben Fletcher was then welcomed back into the side with a yellow card for a rash challenge in the middle of the park on the half hour mark.

Leighton Hewitt then delivered a cross into Anderton whose header was nodded out by Ali.

Entwistle then found himself one-on-one with Barry after racing onto a long ball.

However Barry made himself big and threw himself at the shot to parry it wide.

We then entered first half injury time.

After a truly bizarre moment though, Colne were down to ten.

Alfie Walker stood infront Barry's out of hands kick after being told by the referee to move.

The referee gave the attacker his marching orders after brandishing a second yellow card.

Now with a man advantage, Town attacked the second half.

Ashcroft introduced both Luke Smith and Malick Diakite Tanou after the break.

Watkinson met a cross from McLean and nodded it at goal but once again Turner was equal to it.

Owen then departed for Matt Van Wyk soon after.

Anderton sent an effort wide of the target before Connor Newton fired well over the bar from 30 yards out.

Town were piling in the pressure but Colne wouldn't crack.

Hewitt then made way for Jenson Carter.

Van Wyk ran onto a loose ball down the right before receiving a hard challenge and winning a free kick.

The ball was hurled into the area again and Smith's header dropped just wide of the far post.

Atkinson then received it on the half turn before spinning and volleying at the far corner.

Turner sprung over and held it well.

The two then had another do, as Atkinson raced onto a long ball, finding himself almost one-on-one.

The attacker fired at goal but Turner once again, parried it wide somehow.

Shortly after, just four minutes of added time was announced.

Colne captain Alex Harvey then decided to fly through Tanou on half-way, leaving Town furious.

The referee promptly served up the game's second red card, leaving the hosts down to nine men for the second game running.

Colne's frustrations would then get worse, as Longridge levelled late.

From the resulting free kick, Fletcher pumped it into the danger zone.

With the ball bouncing around the penalty area, Liam Atkinson took charge and fired it into the bottom right corner to the relief of the Longridge faithful.

Not satisfied with just that, Town kept attacking.

Newton looked to ping it into the box but it curved goalwards.

Turner reacted well and managed to tip it over the bar.

Town looked to get the resulting corner into the danger zone, but just as many of them from both sides before, the corner delivery from the left hand side went straight into the side netting of the near post.

The referee then blew full time, leaving both sides frustrated with just a point.

One would think a point would the very least Longridge deserved, however Colne's defensive structure is one to be admired.

Both sides battled, but take a point into next week.

Ashey's red men travel to Prestwich Heys in Manchester on Saturday 21st December before returning home on boxing day to take on Padiham.

A big thank you to those who braved the cold conditions in Colne and supported the boys superbly.

We go again next week.

#UpTheRidge

The Goals:

Colne: Entwistle (20')

Longridge: Atkinson (90+2')

The Teams:

Colne: Turner, McKinley (Maher 90'), Whiteoak, S.Holt, Barnes, Ali, J.Holt, Harvey, Cliffe (C.Holt 70'), Walker, Entwistle (McEvoy 85')

Longridge: Barry, Marshall (Tanou 46'), Devenney, Newton, McLean, Anderton, Fletcher, Richmond (Smith 46'), Hewitt (Carter 72'), Watkinson (Van Wyk 56'), Atkinson