AFC Liverpool v Longridge Town, 6th April 2019

It was a first half that did not have a lot between the two sides. They took the lead on 25 minutes through Jason Hart, who I understood to be an ex-Salford City player that was on a nice bit of money per week for a player at North West Counties level. Their attacking play did show that they were more dangerous in that final third, as we only mustered one first half chance of note.

The second half brilliantly coined the phrase of a game of two halves. Chances were created by the Reds, only to be denied by Lee Dovey in the Longridge goal. There was at least one save that was point blank. We did eventually restore parity about ten minutes from the end, when one of their players got a little nick on Callum Schorah in the box. Marc Stephens stepped up to score.


The Reds were definitely on the front foot in the final stages. However, the visitors did nearly nick it with one late attempt that may have come off the post or saved by Jack Cookson.


I was in the clubhouse after the match with my Brother David to watch the Grand National, and some Longridge Fans were also in there. Their Goalkeeper Lee Dovey got some backs up when he kicked a ball out of the ground after play had stopped. But fair play to some Longridge people who I heard in conversation, who accepted that we had been the better team, and probably should have won. Then again, at every level of the game, teams are successful in part due to an ability to grind out results, and Longride were certainly worthy Champions of the First Division North that season.

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