Rio Alston got the attacking proceedings underway after a fairly slow start from Town, as the young attacker spun his man brilliantly before laying off McLean.

His cross was met by Leighton Hewitt who nodded into the arms of the goalkeeper.

However Stockport attacked back, as Ben Trafford who made a vital intervention to prevent square ball going into the path of Marcus Kouam.

The visitors then got a shot away in quick succession against the run of play, as tricky winger Toby Green curled a left footed effort at goal from 20 yards.

Kier Barry was on hand to tip it past the post.

The Ridge then got on top, as a Morgan Homson-Smith was headed onto the roof of the net by Trafford.

Jack Anderton then began to impose himself on the game, as he hit a trademark left footed effort just over the top left corner.

After a three minute stoppage with the Stockport 'keeper down injured, we continued.

Town managed to keep some of the momentum going after the pause, as Jordan Dainty's looped over and into the goalkeeper's arms.

Then, completely against the run of play, and with heavy offside suspicions, the visitors broke the deadlock.

Green delivered a pin-point cross onto the head of Kouam who found the back of the net.

As the Stockport players went off to celebrate, the Longridge ones ran over to the linesman to let their complaints be heard.

However the officials determined the forward an onside and we kicked off again.

Town responded well though, as Alston's close range volley was kept out well by the hands of Schofield.

Kouam was then played one-on-one with Barry.

As the Town players screamed offside again, Kier Barry made himself big and kept out the striker well with his legs.

Hewitt managed to then fire at goal from a tight angle, only for it to be held by Schofield.

Hewitt was close again, as his shot deflected wide.

The visitors cleared from the resulting corner.

With both goalkeeper putting up a great showing, we entered the break with the visiting side ahead.

At half time, the £62 pound for the ground jackpot was won by ticket number 8013.

A massive thank you for the brilliant support on the ongoing fundraiser.

It's helping the football club an awful lot.

At the break, Dainty departed and was replaced by Tremaine Eastmond, who made his debut.

Sheikh Sohna drifted a cross into Alston as we looked for an early second half leveller.

Unfortunately the attacker just got the header wrong and Stockport cleared.

Then a booking a piece for both sides, with Hewitt for Town and Ehimamiegho for Stockport.

The resulting free kick was then lumped into the danger zone and poked into the back of the net by Harvey Lomakin-Rogers.

Much to their frustration, Town were now two goals behind.

In response, Ashcroft replaced the tired Mitch Marshall with Finley Devenney.

Town themselves now seemed a bit tired, as Stockport attacker Barugh waltzed way too easily through the midfield to get a shot off but Barry was equal to it.

Hewitt managed to get a shot off from 25 yards but it rolled well wide of the bottom corner of which he was aiming for.

Ashcroft then decided to revitalise the side, making a triple substitution.

Ben Fletcher, Sheikh Sohna and Morgan Homson-Smith were replaced by Ethan Edmundson, Jenson Carter and Jacob Bridges.

It seemed to work because moments later, Longridge were back in the game.

Anderton's quick fire cross was poked home at the near post by Eastmond to pull one back.

Carter then battled for the ball by the by-line as he won it back before charging into the box.

Unfortunately the referee pulled him up on it.

However Eastmond continued his charge on goal.

The attacker curled an effort from 25 yards but it dipped just on the wrong side on the bar as it landed on the roof of the net.

Jack Anderton then rose to the occasion.

He delivered a free kick from distance but Stockport cleared their lines.

Anderton then fired at goal as the ball came back out to him, only to find the arms of Atkinson.

He also had a great corner delivery headed out just before it reached Devenney.

As the visitors fought to stay ahead, Green committed a late challenge inside the centre circle and was booked for it.

Barry sent the ball into the crowd of bodies.

It bounced up to Trafford who raced after it but was dragged down by a Stockport defender, leading to the referee pointing to the spot for a 90th minute Longridge penalty.

Due to some crafty delaying tactics which saw Lomakin-Rogers booked, the penalty took some time to be taken.

However it affected Anderton very little, as he stepped up and stroked the spot kick past the diving Schofield and into the bottom right corner to level the scoring.

Despite a great comeback, Town weren't done.

The woodwork then denied what could've been a moment of pure magic.

Ryan McLean recieved it on half-way before driving forward, setting himself and firing onto the top left crossbar from 30+ yards out.

All in the 95th minute.

Agonising.

As the full time whistle blew, there was a subtle feeling of pain amongst the Longridge faithful, but mainly one of pride.

Another incredible comeback against the odds to win a big point.

A big thank you to the 148 who braved cold conditions to help push the boys over the line.

We go again this Saturday when we host high-flying Lower Breck.

Come down, back the boys as brilliantly as you have been doing and we may have a big chance of another great result.

Our next home game after that is National League North outfit Southport in the semi finals of the LFA Cup.

Make sure to clear the diary for that one.

Once again, thank you for the ongoing support.

#UpTheRidge

The Goals:

Longridge: Eastmond (74'), Anderton (90+1p)

Stockport: Kouam (34'), Lomakin-Rogers (59')

The Teams:

Longridge: Barry, Hewitt, Trafford, Marshall (Devenney 60'), McLean, Fletcher (Edmundson 73') Sheikh (Bridges 73'), Dainty (Eastmond 46'), Homson-Smith (Carter 73'), Anderton, Alston

Stockport: Schofield, Padden, Harvey, Kilner, Lomakin-Rogers, Gardner (Monaghan 68'), Atkinson (Hare 56') Ehimamiegho (Turnbull 81'), Barugh, Green, Kouam (McLaughlin 71')