Squires Gate 0 Longridge Town 3: Watkinson's first-half flurry stuns Gate

Following the previous weekend’s narrow defeat at Avro, Gate returned to the Brian Addison stadium for their first competitive home game since October.

Manager Luke Evans made one change in his starting 11, with Ryan Riley making his first start since September in place of Dec Baldwin.

Josh Westwood returned to the bench after missing the Avro game as the match kicked-off in front of a limited crowd.

Following a scrappy start, the visitors won a penalty after eight minutes as striker Owen Watkinson went down in the area.

Watkinson regained his feet and smashed the penalty past Danny Eccles, who got a touch but this wasn’t enough to keep out the spot-kick.

The visitors, who had played only three league games before Saturday to Gate's eight, doubled their lead on 16 minutes, with Watkinson getting an assist this time.

His pinpoint through-ball found Paul Turner, who rounded Eccles and dispatched the ball into the net.

Watkinson threatened yet again five minutes later but Gate’s on-loan centre-back Sam Barrett made a vital challenge to deny the striker a clear route to goal.

Gate’s first chance of note fell to Dean Ing on 24 minutes. The striker did well to chest down a long ball and force his way through the Longridge defence but his low effort was well held by the goalkeeper.

The visitors grabbed a third just before the half-hour mark and it was a second for Watkinson.

The visitors counterattacked when Gate lost the ball high up the pitch and Watkinson unleashed an unstoppable drive from inside the penalty area which found the far corner of the net.

And the striker went close to a first-half hat-trick, firing just wide from the edge of the area.

Gate were looking to get back into the game and began to keep more possession.

James Boyd had an effort from just outside the box well blocked and a good ball from Ing gave the winger another sight of goal, though his touch let him down and it remained 3-0 at half-time

Evans brought on skipper Westwood for Barrett after the interval and Gate made a bright start to the second half.

Riley cut inside from the right and shot just wide, then a cross from the same player was met by the head of Westwood only for the keeper to grab the ball.

Josh Pollard was introduced on the hour in place of Riley and almost made an instant impact.

The midfielder showed great footwork and played a dangerous through-ball towards Kieran Feeney but the keeper was quick off his line to get there first. Feeney then saw an effort from the edge of the area pass just wide.

Gate kept going, with Boyd and Ing both having powerful efforts blocked.

Eccles was also called into action at the other end, denying Ben Fletcher from close range on 81 minutes.

Substitute Jack Iley then put a dangerous ball across goal but couldn’t find a Gate shirt.

The last goalmouth action saw Eccles and Jake Higham combine to clear a Longridge effort off the line.

Gate gave solid second-half performance but could not force their way back into the contest and are still looking for their second league win of the season.

They return to action on Saturday away to high-flyers Warrington Rylands 1906.

Gate: Eccles, Ridings, Higham, Staunton-Turner, Barrett, Southern, Riley, Webster, Feeney, Ing, Boyd; Subs: Westwood, Garrett, Baldwin, Pollard, Iley.

AFC Blackpool are at home to Garstang in first division north on Monday (3pm), with a limited number of spectators permitted.