Liam Atkinson bagged another brace, taking him up to 21 goals for the season, but it couldn't stop Irlam from taking all three points in misty and foggy conditions.

The visitors started on the front foot too.

The ball was flashed across the area inside the first two minutes.

It fell to Declan Daniels who got it all wrong from close range, leaving an easy save to make for Kier Barry, who was making his second home debut.

Irlam were racing forward on the counter moments later but an outstanding challenge from Ethan Edmundson stopped the attacker in his tracks.

Town then looked to wake up a bit.

Luke Smith received it just inside the left hand side of the penalty area before bending it very narrowly wide of the far post.

Still inside the opening ten, Matt Van Wyk held it up, spun his man and laid off Atkinson whose effort from 20 yards deflected at goal.

Irlam goalkeeper Jack Buckley had to dive to his right to palm it out for a corner.

Irlam's Jack Mitchell had two efforts in quick succession, though Barry was equal to both of them.

Takura Sambizi then found himself in behind far too easy after a ball deflected through the Town defence.

To the relief of the Longridge faithful the attacker placed it well over the crossbar.

Finley Devenney then received the plaudits for a huge goal saving tackle after Johnston found himself in a lot of free space in the area.

The defender threw himself infront of the goalbound effort.

However, Town's luck would soon run out, as the visitors broke the deadlock.

Sambizi rode a rash challenge from Fletcher before driving forward and shooting at goal.

Barry flew to his left but unfortunately parried it into the path of Mitchell who this time made no mistake.

Despite this, The Ridge managed a quick equaliser.

Just five minutes later and Marshall's cross deflected into the path of Atkinson who worked himself into some space and rolled it into the bottom left corner to quickly level things back up.

The first half then fizzled out following Liam's leveller, as we soon entered the interval.

At half time, Ashey went to his bench and replaced Goncalves with Lewis Richmond.

Things maybe looked up for a moment but Town would soon be pegged back by a poorly conceded goal.

An Irlam free kick was nodded on by Mitchell and into the far corner to have them regain their lead.

Barry then made another save to keep the score down, this time to deny Sambizi at his near post.

Town then battled hard to start crafting some chances on the hour mark.

The front two combined well again as Van Wyk helped the loose ball onto Atkinson who fired at goal from 20 yards.

However this one was an easy save for Buckley.

There was then a bit of a moment of madness as the 'keeper looked to claim an fairly easy cross.

Though given the conditions, he slipped on his way over leaving Van Wyk with a half chance from a tight angle.

The attacker rolled it at goal and given the wet pitch the ball seemed to slow down on it's way in, leaving Holt a chance to clear it off the line which he just about did, falling into he net as he did so.

A brilliant piece of defending which seemed to rally Irlam even more.

However it didn't deter Town as Van Wyk charged forward again this time down the left hand side.

Matty drifted past his man with ease before firing it across the six yard box.

It fell to Atkinson who couldn't quite get an effort away, but he found Smith who managed a shot but Buckley held it.

As mentioned before the visitors were on it now, and despite the Town pressure Irlam extended their lead.

Johnston managed to loop it over Barry from a somewhat tight angle to make it three.

However just as before Town responded perfectly.

The ball was placed into the near post by Marshall.

Buckley looked to gather it but Atkinson got there ahead of him and cheekily rolled it past the stranded goalkeeper to pull one back.

Town then raced forward in search of an equaliser two minutes later.

Atkinson placed it across goal and as Smith threw himself towards the cross he just couldn't quite connect with it following a huge touch from Ross Davidson.

There was definitely something to be positive about though, as after nine months out with an ACL injury, our very own Danny Wilkinson made a return to action, replacing Luke Smith with ten minutes left.

Irlam's Aidan Roxburgh went on a mazy run, cutting through the Town midfield but ended it with an effort straight into the arms of Barry.

As the officials added just two minutes of added time on, Town had limited time to push for another equaliser.

Fletcher delivered a free kick into the area but Irlam managed to clear and that was that.

Another very frustrating defeat that perhaps the performance hadn't warranted but that's football.

A big thanks to the 188 who braved the miserable conditions to brilliantly back the boys as ever!

We now have two consecutive away days before returning home Tuesday 14th January 2025 to take on newly promoted Stockport Town for the first time.

We then host Squires Gate the following Saturday.

#UpTheRidge

The Goals

Longridge: Atkinson (34', 78')

Irlam: Mitchell (29', 48'), Johnston (73')

The Teams

Longridge: Barry, Marshall, Edmundson, Devenney, McLean, Hewitt, Fletcher, Smith (Wilkinson 81'), Goncalves (Richmond 46'), Van Wyk, Atkinson

Irlam: Buckley, Roxburgh, Holt, Davidson, McMahon, Taylor, Everton (Main 75'), Sambizi, Mitchell, Johnston, Daniels