Longridge Town fell to a narrow defeat to the now play-off bound West Didsbury & Chorlton.

An early second half strike from Patrick Davin would see West grab the three points, despite furious, at the time, appeals for offside by Town.

To add to it, hosts missed a penalty late in the first half as Town held the line.

Despite the efforts made in the second half, Town couldn't snatch an equaliser and the bumper crowd of 1,000+ saw the hosts confirm a play-off spot.

Pre-match, Ashcroft made four changes to the defeated side from last weekend.

Jacob Bridges and Ben Trafford came into the crippled back line, whilst Jordan Dainty and Matt Van Wyk joined the attack.

Lewis Richmond then got the ball rolling at 3pm.

West began the game on top.

A long throw was headed just wide of the near post by Davin, as the forward set the tone early.

Winger Lewis Billingsley then tested Town 'keeper Kier Barry for the first time as he volleyed towards the far corner.

However the young 'keeper tipped it wide at full stretch as he kicked off a busy day in goal.

Against the run of play, Liam Atkinson managed to win the first corner of the game, inside the first 10 minutes.

Ryan McLean's delivery was flicked on by Bridges but was then headed away by the hosts.

Davin then came close again moments later, as he flicked a cross goalwards but Town managed to scramble it clear.

Atkinson then looked to respond for Longridge, but his 20 yard effort was held by Martin in the West goal.

A ball was then lofted over the top as the hosts countered, only for a looping header by Davin to be tipped over by the fingertips of Barry.

As we entered the 20th minute, Davin headed over the crossbar by a matter of inches.

With the hosts massively in the ascendancy, they then got a huge chance to break the deadlock.

Billy Matthews got away from Trafford, and in a last ditch attempt to prevent a close range effort, the defender stuck a leg out and caught the tricky winger.

The referee pointed the spot.

However, unlike himself, Jordan Lazenbury got it all wrong and sent his spot kick well wide of the target.

West were still on top though, and Ethan Edmundson soon had a make a great block to deny a goalbound effort.

As Barry sent a long kick forward just before the break, it broke for Luke Smith on the edge of the box.

He saw an opening and went for the far corner, only for Martin to tip it wide at full stretch.

Town ended the first half strongly, and almost went ahead in bizarre circumstances.

As Ryan McLean sent it forward, it bounced awkwardly and took Martin by surprise.

The goalkeeper misjudged it and found himself racing back to prevent it hitting the net.

To his relief, he just about managed to keep it out.

The half time whistle then blew moments later.

Town actually began the second half quite well.

Smith played a nice ball round the back of the Didsbury defence to find Van Wyk who looked to pull it back to Dainty who waited in the area, but a last ditch challenge from Jones prevented it.

Despite the strong start, Matthews raced onto a long ball from the back but could only fire wide of the near post.

However it mattered little, as moments later the hosts led.

A pass from midfield found Davin, who set himself and blasted it past Barry and into the bottom corner.

Despite the heavy offside appeals from the Town defence, the goal stood.

In response, Ashcroft went to his bench.

Jack Arrowsmith made his way on to replace Bridges.

It wasn't long later that Town then used up the rest of their bench.

Ben Fletcher and Jordan Dainty departed for Jenson Carter and Carson Greaves.

Town then had a decent spell of possession on 70 minutes, but it eventually resulted in a Smith cross being claimed by Martin.

Van Wyk received it on the half turn five minutes later.

He managed to get past one but couldn't find an angle for a shot, before the hosts managed to regain possession and clear.

Van Wyk then gave West something else to defend, as this time, when he received it, he went on the outside and played it across goal but saw it cleared again.

Arrowsmith then tested the 'keeper as he deflected effort from the edge of the box landed in Martin's arms.

The game then turned scrappy for the final ten minutes and both sides battled for the ball, but after four additional minutes the referee blew his full time whistle.

A tough end to another spirited performance, as we take positives from a battling performance at a play-off bound side.

A big thank you to the Ridge army who joined us on the coach and joined us at the ground and backed the boys brilliantly.

We go again next Saturday when we host Prestwich Heys in the 2024/25 season finale.

Elsewhere.

Colne also seem to be all but relegated with an 13 goal deficit to overcome in the final game of the season.

Coincidentally, Town play their relegation rivals on the final day of the season.

A massive thank you for the support over the course of an up and down season.

We couldn't do it without you.

#OnlyOneLongridgeTown

The Goals:

West Didsbury: Davin (49')

Longridge: N/A

The Teams:

West Didsbury: Martin, Dunford, Jones (Dawson 55'), Riley, McConnell, Rowney, Moscrop (Roberts 70'), Billingsley, Matthews, Lazenbury, Davin (Abadaki 75')

Longridge: Barry, Bridges (Arrowsmith 55'), Trafford, Edmundson, McLean, Fletcher (Carter 65'), Richmond, Smith, Dainty (Greaves 65'), Van Wyk, Atkinson