Saturday 6th August 2022, FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round

Longridge Town 0
West 1 (Hampson 72)
Att: 309

Ben Hampson’s second-half strike was enough to secure FA Cup progression for West at Longridge Town.

Hampson’s goal with 18 minutes remaining settled the inaugral meeting between the sides, and was just reward after a dominant first-half display was followed up with a more resolute showing after the break.

Victory also set up a Preliminary Round meeting at Northwich Victoria later this month, and West will now have their sights set on progressing to the First Qualifying Round for the first time.

The confidence drawn from Tuesday’s excellent win against Prestwich Heys was evident, particularly in a first period where West were denied only by a rearguard action from Longridge keeper James Aspinall.

Ben Elliott was denied after being set free by Rhain Davis, Hampson saw a close-range effort shovelled away and both Dontai Gabidon and Ezeikel Eme had low shots tipped around the far post. When Aspinall was beaten, by both Lee Gavin and Eme, the assistant’s flag had already been raised for offside.

But Longridge, West’s NWCFL Premier Division stablemates this season and so another test of the visitors’ adaption to a higher level, carried their own threat – Andrew Jones produced an excellent save after a left-wing cross had cannoned off the crossbar and back into the danger area.

However, Elliott had endured a brusing 45 minutes and failed to emerge for the restart. The loss of West’s focal point sapped their momentum, and Longridge began dominating the play. The home side forced a succession of set-pieces, spurning a pair of extremely presentable opportunities as West began to ride their luck.

As the second half wore on, West began to reassert themselves and were rewarded just as a Tuesday-night replay materialised on the horizon. Curtis Miller’s corner caused havoc in the Longridge box, and Hampson was perfectly positioned to lash the loose ball past Aspinall.

West had 18 minutes to protect their one-goal lead, but the task increased in difficulty after eight had elapsed when Lee Gavin was dismissed for two yellow-card offences in quick succession.

But the visitors, excellently marshalled again by Hampson and centre-back partner Markell Foulds, were not to be denied back-to-back wins. With a first clean sheet of the campaign added to early cup progression, a solid start to the season is beginning to look increasingly more impressive.

West: A. Jones, Graham (Hancock 71), Westall, Gavin, Hampson, Foulds, Eme, Davis, Elliott (Swift h/t (Taylor 80)), Miller, Gabidon. Not used: Delaney, Iacovou, Vayro, Dickinson.

Eckersley’s Plumbers & Locksmiths Player of the Match: Curtis Miller.

Lenny Sullivan and Matty Phillips reaction