Skelmersdale United's epic FA Cup run continues into the 4th Qualifying Round for the first time since 1972-3 after a narrow 1-0 win away to fellow NWCFL side Longridge Town on Tuesday night.

United reach the final qualifying round after the victory at the Mike Riding Ground where just a single goal was needed for the ten men of United who lost Josh Peet before the end of the first half for two bookings.

Paul McNally welcomed Danny Mitchley back from illness in place of Tom Croughan who was joined by fit again Alex Davies on the bench. The hosts started the brighter in the rainy conditions with Scott Harries hitting a shot past the post before Lloyd Ellams headed over from a Callum Preston free-kick for United.

Danny Mitchley forced a superb stop from Town ' keeper Lee Dovey on seven minutes with him also saving the rebound. before a clever chest save after Emini Adegbenro had lofted a long ball forward.

Dan Gray cut in from the wing and rifled a shot which curled narrowly over the bar and at the other end, Adegbenro sent a shot past the post. Josh Peet was booked on 18 minutes after a fould on Jack Anderton and the resulting free-kick saw former United striker Tom Ince almost open the scoring as he came close to connecting at the far post.

Harries tried his luck again with a shot over from range before United had the ball in the net on the half-hour mark but Adegbenro was deemed offside . Within a minute they had a great chance to strike an opener as a penalty was awarded for handball. Mitchley stepped up and saw his effort saved superbly by the diving Dovey.

United's task suffered a blow on 38 minutes with Peet sent off after his second booking and Longridge should have taken the lead on 40 minutes as a shot across goal looked certain to cross the line but Jack Anderton in looking to tap in, cleared off the line accidentally and they went even closer just before the interval as Gray's shot cannoned off the fingertips of Ben Barnes and the crossbar.

The second half saw Town with a number of early chances before a looping cross from Adegbenro found Mitchley on the volley who drew a strong stop from Dovey. Despite the man disadvantage, United continued to threaten with Ellans angling an effort over the bar and Jack Grimshaw hitting narrowly past the post after a pacy run through the middle.

United made a change in attack with Tom Croughan replacing Ellams and with 70 minutes played, United were awarded their second penalty of the evening as Mitchley was upended, Adegbenro stepped up and slotted past Dovey into the bottom corner for 1-0.

Longridge now needed to push harder and worked Barnes further who on 79 minutes saved from Harries and Brandon Lee in a matter of seconds. He was called into action again on 84 minutes after a scramble in the United defence after Owen Watkinson's header with him claiming comfortably.

As the tie entered the final minutes, United had two great chances to wrap up the win, a clever cross from Croughan found Mitchley who saw a close-range shot cannon achingly back off the bar and Croughan himself raced towards goal minutes later with a stellar save from Dovey denying him. Town had the final chance of the evening with substitute Turner denied by a superb save from Barnes.

The final whistle sounded to a raucous roar from the travelling fans and officials as United celebrated a first passage to the 4th Qualifying round for the first time since 1972-3 and just one win away from the hallowed First Round Proper.

Longridge Town - Dovey, Gray, Lee, Wicks (Turner 62), Schofield, Wilkinson, Harries, Fletcher, Watkinson, Ince (McAdam 74), Anderton. Subs not used - Charnley, Linighan, Melling, Beattie.

Skelmersdale United - Barnes, Herbert, Preston, Murphy. Grogan, Peet, J.Grimshaw, Ellams (Croughan 68). Mitchley (Davies 90), Griffiths, Adegbenro (Ellis 85). Subs not used- Webb, Glennon, Jones, T.Grimshaw.

Referee - A.Bennett
Att-298.