FA Cup: Longridge Town v Cheadle Town - Match Preview

Cheadle Town will begin their FA Cup journey this weekend against fellow NWCFL Premier Division side, Longridge Town. The match will be Cheadle’s first away game of the season as they make the journey up to the ‘Recycling Lives Ground’ in Preston.

For Cheadle, the season is off to a steady start, opening their campaign with a 2-1 win against Prestwich Heys thanks to a brilliant first time finish from Danny McLaughlin in the 85th minute. Securing him the man of the match award and two goals on the opening day. However, four days later, last season's NWCFL Division one winners St Helens made the trip down to Cheadle and left with all three points. St Helens led 3-0 after sixty-six minutes, and despite Cheadle’s valiant efforts to fight back in the last half an hour, it was all too little too late. 

As for Longridge Town, they have also seen similar fortunes in the opening two games of the season. Kicking off their campaign with a 1-0 at home to Burscough, also stealing the points late on thanks to a ninetieth minute winner from Leighton Hewitt. But, just three days later, Longridge found themselves two goals down inside ten minutes at home against Charnock Richard. They managed to steady the ship and get into halftime just two down, however a goal six minutes into the second half may have done damage to any second half plans, before a late fourth goal went in to seal a 4-0 win on the road for Charnock Richard. 

In terms of previous results between the two sides, there was little to separate the two last season, but there was certainly drama. They met each other at the ‘Recycling Lives Ground’ in late September where the points were shared in a thrilling 1-1 draw, Longridge took the lead in the sixty-first minute through Dean Ing. However, in the ninety-second minute Jordan Lazenbury found the back of the net to ensure Cheadle did not leave empty handed. But, just two weeks later, Longridge got their revenge, making the forty-five-mile trip down to Cheadle and leaving with all three points thanks to late late drama, finding themselves 2-1 down before scoring in the eighty-eighth and ninety-first minute to steal all three points.

So to put it simply, both last season and this season there is next to nothing to separate the two sides. This season they sit next to each other in the league table, Cheadle in thirteenth and Longridge in fourteenth, albeit being very early doors. However, a good result and run in the FA Cup is enough to get the confidence flowing at any level. The game will kick off at 15:00 and judging by the two fixtures last season, it’s set to be a thriller, come on Cheadle.

Written by Rob Mackenzie