Longridge Town vs AFC Fylde

Jackson's second goal, arriving 13 minutes into the second half, effectively ended the contest. Longridge Town had been organised defensively in the first period — as AFC Fylde head coach Craig Mahon acknowledged — but the gap in fitness and quality told after the interval. The four-division gulf between National League North (Step 2) and the NWCFL Premier Division (Step 5) became increasingly apparent as legs tired.

Mahon told Coasters TV: "Obviously with promotion to the National League now there's four divisions between two sides, but particularly in the first half you couldn't really tell that, because Longridge really gave it a go and made it a test for us."

Assistant head coach Alex Kenyon, speaking to the club's official website, said: "They're a credit to the football club" — referring to the academy products who earned first-team minutes in the youthful lineup.

Ben Jackson was the standout, scoring the crucial second goal from a set-piece situation and showing composure on the second ball. Danny Ormerod opened the scoring early and set the tone. Eliyas Alshamari capped the performance with a composed late finish.

The youthful XI — a blend of academy prospects and first-team squad players — impressed collectively. Kenyon highlighted the number of academy graduates who featured, with the club's X account noting "a whole host of academy products earn first-team minutes."

For Longridge Town, the match served as a valuable benchmark against full-time opposition before the NWCFL Premier Division season begins.

The 3-0 scoreline reflects a game that was controlled rather than dominated. The 1-0 half-time lead suggests AFC Fylde were patient in breaking down a well-organised low-block side, before the gap told. The scoring was spread across both halves (16', 58', 80'), indicating sustained pressure rather than a single burst. The clean sheet is a notable step forward: Fylde had shipped two goals to Blackpool, one to Hyde United, and two to Huddersfield Town in their previous three friendlies.

AFC Fylde continue their pre-season schedule at Mill Farm on Saturday 25 July against League One side Wigan Athletic, followed by a fixture at Morecambe on 28 July, before the National League North season begins on 8 August. The Coasters' pre-season record now stands at two wins (Hyde United 3-1, Longridge Town 3-0) and two defeats (Blackpool 2-3, Huddersfield Town 1-2).

For Longridge Town, this was their final pre-season fixture before the NWCFL Premier Division campaign gets underway in early August. The Step 5 side will take positives from the fitness work completed against higher-tier opposition.

A straightforward, professional workout for AFC Fylde, who never needed to leave second gear. The young lineup gained valuable minutes against organised but limited opposition, and the first clean sheet of pre-season will please the coaching staff. Longridge Town got the competitive run-out they needed, even if the scoreline was one-sided.