Hat-trick dashes hopes for Bacup at the

MATTHEW LAWSON BACUP 0 Longridge 3 BACUP Borough suffered a defeat at home as a hat-trick from Ritchie Allen inspired Longridge to victory at the Brian Boys West View Stadium.

Despite all the rain the day and night before the fixture, the pitch was looking good and ready for 90 minutes of North West Counties footballing action.

With the blustery wind inside the stadium it was tough for both sides to play any kind of ‘football’ - with Longridge playing into the wind and Borough having the wind behind them in the first half.

Josh Walne came closest to opening the scoring for Bacup, his well struck right footed shot was turned away for a corner by the diving Town goalkeeper. That was all before a quality save from Borough goal keeper Henry Turner to deny Jay Hart from close range.

Anthony Hall then had a chance to give Bacup the lead as he came in from the right hand side and curled a left footed effort, but it was straight at the keeper Dovey who was equal to the effort.

Just after the half hour mark, Longridge took the lead from the penalty spot, Richie Allen was fouled on the edge of the box, he picked himself up and put the penalty into the bottom corner. At the half-time break Borough went in one goal down but they certainly weren’t out of this fixture.

There were some great football from Borough in the opening moments of the second half as Anthony Hall did well to find Micah Evans at the back post who knocked