Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Longridge off mark
LOUIS Longridge took the first step towards a double figures goal target in Hamilton’s 3-1 Betfred Cup win at East Kilbride on Saturday.
After Sean Winter’s penalty in the 69th minute had cancelled out a Darian MacKinnon first-half opener for Accies, the opening Group G match looked like it might just be swinging towards last season’s Lowlands League champions.
However, Longridge got the Premiership outfit back on track at a rain-lashed K-Park when he headed in a Grant Gillespie cross before Ali Crawford added a late third.
The 26-year-old attacker was glad to open up his goal account on the first day of the season.
“I spoke to the manager ( Martin Canning) and he set a target for me to get more goals and assists this season,” Longridge said.
“So to get off the mark in the first game was pleasing.
“In previous seasons I haven’t really influenced as much as I’d expect but this year double figures for goals is the target.
“A team like Hamilton needs as many goals as we can to remain in the league.”
Longridge believes the afternoon could have been less stressful.
He said: “We were comfortable at the start and went 1-0 up and there were enough chances to be three or four up in the first half.
“The longer the game went on at 1-0 it gives them every chance.”