Tempest twice came from behind to earn a hard earned point as Longridge dropped two points in their title challenge, with their first home draw of the season.

Manager Lee Ashcroft welcomed back Captain George Melling from suspension, whilst missing both Mark Woods and Ash Ball through two match bans.

Town started brightly, a much improved performance after Saturday's defeat to Southport Hesketh, with Brad Carsley going close, before Jordan Tucker hit the crossbar after 12 minutes. It was one way traffic as Town looked for the breakthrough first goal , as Brad Carsley then hit the post twice in 5 minutes. Leon McLouglin replaced the injured Mark Jeffers and he went close just a minute after entering the fray, forcing an excellent save from the visiting keeper.

Carsley finally opened the scoring after 31 minutes rising highest at the far post to power a downward header into the net from an Alex O'Rourke cross. 1-0 to Town.

A Longridge free kick was then cleared by the Tempest defence and they broke at pace, a diagonal ball to the far post finding Town outnumbered, and the ball was Fred home to equalise on the cusp of half time. 1-1 as the teams went in, and Town had had the better of the half but hadn't taken their chances.

The second half began in much the same vein and, after 58 minutes Carsley broke through one on one with the Tempest keeper, and finished brilliantly into the top of the goal. 2-1 to Longridge, and the next goal would be vital.

Tempest then had a spell of twenty minutes where they saw a lot of the ball, and controlled the game , creating several chances, pulling the strings in centre midfield with pace on both wings. Town keeper Lee Dovey was called into action making several decent saves from distance.

A Longridge corner after 72 minutes saw Tempest break away with 5 players sprinting to get forward into the Town half, a fantastic ball to the far post was head home past a despairing Dovey to level the scores at 2-2. Town were again guilty of being caught on the break but it was a great goal by the visitors, and for any neutral watching a great game was unfolding.

With 15 minutes left it was all to play for, and several yellow cards were shown as the frenetic pace of the game in midfield saw some competitive challenges.

Brad Carsley found himself one on one with the keeper with just 6 minutes remaining but the Tempest goal remained intact after a fantastic one handed save.

It was need to end stuff as both sides looked for the winner and, after Jack Preston was brought on to partner Carsley up front, his challenge saw the ball land at the feet of Towns leading scorer just 8 yards from goal. His side footed volley was again saved by the keeper and, with just 2 minutes remaining you got the feeling that the elusive 3rd goal would never come.

Two late corners resulted in goalmouth scrambles in the Tempest box but the whistle blew to end an entertaining game, played in front of a crowd of 102 at the MRG.

The result leaves Town 3 points clear at the top of the West Lancashire League Premier Division with just 3 games remaining.

This Saturday sees Longridge entertain Cumbrian visitors Whitehaven with a 3pm Kick Off at the MRG. With time, and games, running out, your support for the lads will be vital as the Club looks to win its first ever Premier Division title.