In a game which saw the visitors go down to nine men at one point, albeit only temporarily, Ashey's young guns kept their heads to hold out for a brilliant victory.

There was two changes to the starting XI with one enforced.

New Accrington Stanley loanee Rio Alston started up top, whilst Jordan Dainty came in late for Finley Devenney, who pulled up in the warm-ups.

Obviously, Town began brilliantly.

Ryan McLean's early throw in looped over the head of Hoskin but was met by the boot of Anderton and volleyed superbly into the far corner after just 50 seconds.

Town then had to hold the line.

Ben Trafford took the game's first booking ten minutes later for mistiming a headed challenge with Joel Brownhill.

However the resulting free kick effort from Briggs was held by Kier Barry.

Trafford was then involved again as he made a brilliant goal saving challenge to deny a close range effort by Brownhill.

Town came very close to doubling their lead moments later, as a glancing header from Mitch Marshall landed just the wrong side of the post after a pinpoint free kick delivery from Morgan Homson-Smith.

Leighton Hewitt then switched it brilliantly over to Anderton whose first time volley dipped just over the bar.

Alston then received it on half-way, before spinning his man and looked to spark a counter attack.

Unfortunately the hosts defended it.

Ryan McLean was then carded for "slowing the game down", even though Town were on top.

The hosts then had a big chance, but were let down by Hoskin who headed way over the bar from close range.

The centre half then headed over again moments later from a free kick delivery, the offside flag was up anyway.

Marshall then put his body on the line brilliantly, to challenge a clear cut chance for Brownhill, with both players feeling the effects of it up until half time.

Alston got himself on the end of a long searching ball from Trafford but was seemingly thrown to the ground, but we played on despite the Town appeals.

Padiham's Knox then received his first booking of the game for an elbow in an aerial challenge on Trafford.

Just before the interval, Hoskin had another land behind the goal, as he volleyed well over from the edge of the area.

Now playing off the left, Alston received it from McLean before breezing past his man and pulling it back for Luke Smith.

The defender got there first and cleared, but only as far as Dainty who fired into the diving arms of Hamnett.

The game then took a strange turn, as Knox received a second yellow card for dissent.

Padiham were not best pleased, needless to say.

Ben Fletcher was then booked up the other end moments later for a late challenge.

However, Alston then began to impose himself brilliantly down the left.

Now playing right back, Hyun Seol was booked for a late challenge on the loanee.

Alston then received it again before beating Seol for pace but his square ball was cut out.

Kier Barry then did well to hold a hanging corner delivery to welcome applause from the Longridge faithful.

The hosts then had their best chance of the game, as a loose ball ricocheted off a Longridge body but was palmed away by Barry.

A fierce effort then came in from Briggs but ever-alert, Kier Barry somehow stretched out to tip it onto the crossbar.

Moments later and Padiham's Jakub Hebda was sin-binned for dissent.

Lee Ashcroft responded by replacing Morgan Homson-Smith with Ethan Edmundson, as Town's only substitute.

McLean then brought down a high ball and raced forward.

He laid off Smith who dragged it wide from the edge of the area.

Town then came very, very close twice.

McLean was brilliant again, as he squared it across the danger zone, only for Smith's close range effort to be superbly tipped over by Hamnett.

Alston then cut inside moments later and curled an effort onto the far post.

Hebda then returned to the pitch.

However, following two additional minutes the full time whistle blew, as the Ridge claimed an absolutely massive three points.

A massive thank you to the travelling support who got behind the boys incredibly as per usual.

One thing cannot be denied, man to man, including the twelfth man wereoutstanding.

The boys cannot do it without you.

We're now back at it on Tuesday night when we travel to St Helens.

Then on Saturday we're away at Chadderton, albeit playing at Avro FC's ground.

We then return back home on Tuesday 25th to take on Stockport Town.

Before another home game on the following Saturday, against high-flying Lower Breck.

Once again, thank you for your incredible ongoing support.

#UpTheRidge

The Goals

Padiham: N/A
Longridge: Anderton (1')

The Teams

Padiham: Hamnett, Dearden (Hebda 46'), Knox, Hoskin, Jenkins, Pugh, Seol, Wilson-Heyes, Melia, Briggs, Brownhill

Longridge: Barry, Marshall, Trafford, McLean, Hewitt, Fletcher, Smith, Homson-Smith (Edmundson 83'), Anderton, Alston