After passing a pitch inspection in the morning, 219 supporters made their way to the MRG hoping to see their sides progress in the competition.

Troy Carsley and Ryan McKenna came into the starting XI, replacing Ben Fletcher and Ryan Schofield following Wednesday night’s 2-1 home win over Northwich Victoria.

Town came out of the blocks firing in the early stages of the game and took the lead in the 11th minute.

A deflected Dan Birch cross rattled the post and earned Lee Ashcroft’s side a corner. Captain Tom Ince took the corner short, playing a one-two with George Thomason and sending a sizzling strike into the back of the net from 20 yards out.

Nine minutes later, Longridge had their lead doubled through an own goal from Thornaby’s Alex Dougall. Town played the ball into a crowded area and the defender accidentally put the ball into the back of his own net.

Thornaby pulled a goal back with half an hour on the clock to make it 2-1. Adam Preston broke down the left-hand side, taking the ball to the by-line before squaring to Ian Ward who was able to tap the ball home from close range.

Town pushed to regain a two-goal advantage with a great save from Thornaby keeper Adrian Boblowski denying Paul Tuner after the striker tried his luck from 18 yards.

Five minutes before half time, that two goal advantage was restored. Ryan McKenna found Turner with a brilliant ball down the middle of the park with Turner making no mistake about firing the ball past the keeper to make it 3-1 and subsequently closing the scoring in an action packed first half.

The 219 supporters in attendance will have been entertained with four first half goals, and at the beginning of the second half it was clear the goals wouldn’t be stopping there.

With 51 minutes played it was 4-1. The influential Birch again involved feeding a cracker of a ball through to Turner who rocketed the ball past Boblowski.

Just a minute later Thornaby got their second of the game. Goal scorer Ward returned the favour to his strike partner Preston as he sent in the cross for Preston to head home to make it 4-2.

Just before the hour mark a well-supported Thornaby celebrated further as they made it 4-3. A looping header from Ward bringing his side back within reach of leaders Longridge.

It wasn’t for long though as Town responded straight away. George Thomason broke forward with a cracking effort. Keeper Boblowski initially made the save but Turner was there to tap the rebound into the back of the net for his hat-trick and 25th goal of the season.

Thornaby had the chance to make it 5-4 after being awarded a penalty in the 77th minute but Preston stepped up and blasted the spot kick wide of Lee Dovey and his goal.

It looked like Turner was about to get his fourth of the game finding himself one on one with Boblowski in the Thornaby goal, but the keeper came out and wiped out the striker leaving himself with a yellow card and Town with a freekick.

Substitute Brad Wicks was the man to make it six for the Ridge. He stepped up to take the freekick, shooting on target with Boblowski handles but mistakenly drops the ball with it eventually finding its way over the line.

The tenth goal of the game came in added time as Thornaby attacked with Preston then able to slot the ball past Dovey for the Teesside team’s fourth and rounding up the scoring after an entertaining game of football enjoyed.

Wednesday night sees Town’s next game as they entertain 1874 Northwich at the Mike Riding Ground in a 19.45 kick-off.

Longridge Town: Dovey, Birch, Carsley, Linighan, McKenna, Wilkinson, Harries (Murphy), Thomason, Turner 39, 51, 60 (Morris), Ince 11, Pond (Wicks 84)
Subs not used: Gourley, Hunt

Thornaby FC: Boblowski, Dougall, Lovatt, Bailey, Guru, Posthill, Scaife-Wheatley, Green, Preston 52, 90+1, Ward 31, 59 Howes
Subs: Cooke, Clark, Chapman, Foley

Longridge Town Football Club

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