Just prior to kick off, the club presented club captain Ben Fletcher with a framed photo to celebrate his 150th appearance, overcoming many nasty injuries along the way.

It's great to have the captain back and his performances since returning have been outstanding, here's to another 150.

There was a big shuffle about in the squad due to the issues mentioned.

Preston North End loanee Peter Critchley came into the defence for his debut.

Jacob Bridges, Jordan Dainty and Jenson Carter also came into the XI.

Defender Daniel Cunningham made the bench, as did young goalkeeper Lewis Caffery.

However, Jack Arrowsmith also made the bench, after two years out with a nasty ACL injury.

Ben Trafford missed out through suspension.

We got underway with Pilkington in the ascendancy.

Barry was tested early, as he parried away a powerful effort from the edge of the box.

However the rebound fell into the path of Schorah who fired the rebound over the bar.

Liam Atkinson looked to hit back, however his 20 yard effort was held by Pilks goalkeeper Jake Hilton.

Kyle Schorah fired at goal again, this time it headed towards the far corner but was beaten away by Kier Barry.

Town then survived another scare, as Luke Garbutt dribbled through the Town defence and shot.

Barry parried it into the path of Ryan Beigan who slid it wide.

Atkinson held up a pass and moved it on to Anderton.

Jack cut inside and fired it well over the bar in search of the top left corner.

Luke Smith was then the next player to fire a wayward effort over the bar from distance for Town.

Unfortunately, we then had a lengthy delay due to Pilkington player Harry Hollness needing to depart via a stretcher.

Everyone at Longridge Town wishes him all the very best.

The half ended poorly for Longridge.

Pilkington raised their game as a goalbound shot was blocked by Bridges and gathered by Barry.

The Greens then opened the scoring as Garbutt raced onto a long ball, worked his way through the Town back line and rolled it past Barry.

Due to the stoppage before, we had seven minutes of stoppage time.

Following a terrible challenge on Anderton down the right, Town had a late free kick.

Jack delivered it but the referee promptly blew for a foul on a Pilkington man in the penalty area.

Leighton Hewitt then made an incredible goal line clearance to keep the score down just before the break.

Fletcher then cleared the resulting corner with his head.

Ticket number 8837 won the half time pound for the ground jackpot of £67.

A big thank you for the continued support on the club fund raiser.

The visitors kicked the second half off moments after Town had made a double change.

Luke Smith and Jordan Dainty departed for Ethan Edmundson and Matt Van Wyk.

Town came close quite early, as an Anderton cross was headed into the arms of Hilton by Atkinson.

However, Pilkington struck the net in response, as Schorah got his goal as he raced in from the left hand side and placed it in the bottom corner.

Longridge responded well, moments later they were convinced they should've had a penalty.

A corner delivery fell at the feet of Carter, whose effort seemingly deflected off a Pilkington arm in the penalty area.

Despite furious appeals from Town, the referee signalled for a corner.

Atkinson headed the set piece delivery from Anderton at goal but once again, Hilton held.

Atkinson manage to fire at goal from a very tight angle but it flew over the bar.

With 25 minutes left, Ashcroft went to his bench.

Ryan McLean and Jenson Carter made way, for Daniel Cunningham and Jack Arrowsmith, as he made his first appearance for two years following a nasty reoccurring ACL injury.

Welcome back, Arrows.

He was straight into the action, as he breezed past Pilks defender Joe Cunningham and crossed, however his final ball was cleared.

Van Wyk went for goal from the edge of the box but Hilton got a fingertip on it to put it wide.

With nothing coming from the resulting corner, Town's next chance came through Arrowsmith whose 20 yard shot was blocked.

Town then had another penalty appeal waved away, as Van Wyk was bundled over as he won it back in the area, however we played on.

Atkinson then saw an effort from a tight angle nestle into the side netting.

However just after the added time of four minutes, Atkinson was sin-binned for dissent.

The full time whistle then blew soon after, condemning Town to another defeat.

A big thank you to the 135 who braved the wet and windy Longridge weather to back the boys.

We go again next Saturday, when we travel to Burscough.

We then make the journey over to West Didsbury and Chorlton the Saturday after, a reminder of the coach trip we're putting on for that game at £20 a seat.

Payments for that must be made a week in advance.

We look forward to a cracking away following for that game.

We then return home on Saturday 19th April when we host Prestwich Heys on the final day of the 24/25 season.

The junior mascots from Ribchester Rovers chose Jack Anderton as their MOTM whilst the committee chose Kier Barry as theirs.

We go again, thank you for your support this season.

The Goals

Longridge:

Pilkington: Garbutt (45'), Schorah (49')

The Teams

Longridge: Barry, Hewitt, Bridges, Critchley, McLean (Cunningham 46'), Fletcher, Smith (Edmundson 46'), Dainty (Van Wyk 46'), Carter (Arrowsmith 65'), Anderton, Atkinson

Pilkington: Hilton, Hollness (Batterton 39'), Howell, Lawrence, Cunningham, Starkey, Gilchrist, Salisbury (Batterton 90'), Schorah (McConhie 83'), Beigan (Rutherford 90+3'), Garbutt