[themaclad]

Longridge Town 4 Hewitt 3 Irbar Chadderton 4 Abbott, Dale Knight 2

Att 153

A first visit to the The Rycycling Lives Ground in Longridge which is just North East of Preston to see a North West Counties Premier League ground.
Three covered stands which will be needed up there, three sided ground as there is a steep drop into the field next to the ground however you get some great views of Bowland and Longridge Fells
Longridge had had an impressive start tolife in the North West Counties however seem to have stalled after the initial burst of success, under ex North Ender Lee Ashcroft they have a very young side and seem to be rebuilding for the future
After 13 minutes the home side were 2 down both goals similar both looked offside neither given balls down either flank caused problems ball into centre and both Abbott and Dale fired home off the keeper

An early tacticle substitution saw the introduction of Hewitt, by accident or design the lad looked 12 years old changed the course of the game although not immediately.
Chadderton will still getting immense joy with balls behind either wing back, but half way through the half, deficit reduced, bll over the top Hewitt hogging the right wing collected the ball and easily scored past Chaddie's keeper. No further goals until half time however this is where thngs started to take a strange turn of events,
At half timeChadderton's reserve keeper started to warm up, thought nothing about it as he took his place behind the sticks for the second half within 10 minutes scores level Hewitt at the back post simple tap in and this is where it gets strange Chaddie player sin bined and they are now down to 9 and it dawns on me that keeper hasn't been substituted he's been sent off, apparently the wonderfully named Morgan Bacon had said something rash(er) to the ref at the break and had been sent off.
Hewitt duly completed his hat trick after a game of pinball in the six yard box.
Chaddie now back to 10 equaliswd ball over the top Knight took the ball on ad chipped the keeper 3 all. He should have put Chaddie ahead a minute later similar move this time tried to take the ball around the keeper failed however. Miss proved costly Irbar tapped home from close range to put Longridge 4-3 up.
Deep into injury time and there was plenty of that Knight scored the goal of the game controlled the ball and fired home from 25 yards 4 all, in the afermath Chaddie captain hammered the ball into the adjoining field received his second yellow card and Chaddie were back to 9 again.
Still plenty of time for the hoe side to hit the post but it ended all square.