A strike on 75 minutes by Dean Ing was enough to secure a 2-2 draw for Longridge Town against Prestwich Heys in an enthralling and incident-packed NWCFL Premier Division contest on Saturday.

It was a tale of two in-form sides - the hosts with only one defeat in the last six and Heys undefeated in the last eight league games and buoyed by two new signings in the week of defender Matty Williams, from Bury, and midfielder Ryley Smith, arriving after a spell in the USA.

It was the home side first to show in the third minute with Morgan Homson-Smith bringing an early save from Heys keeper Jordan Hadlow, before Heys full-back Nathan Emery had the ball in the net soon after but referee Sam Oldfield controversially ruled offside.

Heys pressed and skipper Aaron Chalmers saw an effort from 40 yards saved by keeper Kier Barry. But as Heys pressed, it was Longridge who broke the deadlock on 32 minutes when Mitchell Marshall was put through and fired past Hadlow from 12 yards.

In the aftermath Heys midfielder Brad Sixsmith was sin binned for 10 minutes for something said to the referee and Heys manager Lee O’Brien was shown a red card in the dugout for the second game in a row.

Shortly before half time, Town’s Paul Turner and Heys Emery tangled, both getting a yellow card and a sin bin for the Heys man.

After the break Heys rallied and the comeback began on 52 minutes when a ball looped over the top found Connor Berry 20 yards out and with keeper Barry running to close him down, Berry smashed home the equaliser.

The visitors’ tails were up now and they were in front just two minutes later. It was great work by debutant Williams, who charged down the right and looked to have run out of room, but he managed to cross to Davies who clipped it past Barry from an awkward angle to but Prestwich in front.

The next 20 minutes were a tight tussle as Rio Clegg replaced Jack Coop and Greg Daniels came on for Kyle Jacobs and Heys were on the wrong end of a couple of offside decisions.

And frustration got worse with 15 minutes to go as a poor back pass put Heys keeper Hadlow in trouble and in nipped Ing to make it all square again at 2-2 only moments after Davies had rattled the post for Prestwich.

The game was put on hold for a lengthy stoppage for Heys Chalmers who got up gripping his chest and he was replaced by Darcy O’Connor shortly after, while Ryley Smith made his Heys debut replacing Connor Berry.

As the game reached its conclusion it was sub O’Connor next in the sin bin for something said and as the final whistle blew fellow substitute Clegg was shown a red card.

A frustrating day for Heys but they are now nine games unbeaten in the league.

Heys return to Adie Moran Park on Saturday when they host AFC Liverpool (3pm) in the league.