Alex Birch (words) & David Airey (pics) at Banbury Plant Hire CS
THE Magpies fell to defeat on the road against fellow playoff chasers Banbury United.
The visitors bossed long spells of the first half, with Connor Hall testing Jack Harding early on, collecting a high through ball from Jon Ustabaşı before striking the chest of the onrushing Jack Harding in the Banbury goal.
Ustabaşı also went close with a wicked drive from range that just cleared the bar, before the home side’s skipper Gio Rasulo tested Matt Urwin with a 25 yard free kick. Otherwise, it was an arms length type of opening 45 minutes.
Unfortunately, within 30 seconds of the restart Banbury were ahead. Jack Stevens swaying his way through the Chorley backline before planting his effort under Urwin.
The home side were now in command; Rasulo saw a free kick fly just over Urwin’s bar and Alex Babos tested the goalie’s reflexes after twisting into space down the right channel.
Then the task became even harder as Scott Leather was dismissed for a second booking – the resulting Rasulo free kick brilliantly saved by Urwin.
There was nothing Urwin could do about Banbury’s second, eight minutes from time. Henry Landers teeing up Babos to fire low into the corner from the edge of the box. The third and final goal two minutes later from Rasulo, another low strikes from the edge of the penalty area, added insult to injury.
Banbury Harding; Roberts, Brown, Smile, Williams, Rasulo (c), Stevens (Landers, 80′), Acquaye (Walsh, 89′), Hickman, Radcliffe, Babos (Dugmore, 86′). Subs not used: Reilly, Taylor.
Chorley Urwin; Smith, Wilson, Leather (c), Whitehouse, Calveley, Sampson, Ustabaşı (Fenlon, 83′), Challoner, Shenton (Tomlinson, 73′), Hall (Johnson, 83′). Subs not used: Nolan, Owens.
We weren’t good enough in the second half and the most disappointing thing is we’ve done the damage to ourselves with the first goal and haven’t been able to recover – Andy Preece
HT 0-0
Goals (assists) Stevens 46′, Babos 82′ (Landers), Rasulo 85′ | None
Cautions Roberts 37′ | Ustabaşı 35′, Leather 60′, 66′
Dismissals None | Leather 66′
Crowd 803
Officials Jonathan Maskrey | Niall Felton & Kurt Bartlett
Next Up
We return home for Match Day 20 of the Vanarama National League North campaign – Curzon Ashton visiting HQ on Saturday lunchtime (early kick off – 12:30pm). Tickets available online here or on the day – £15 Adults | £12 65+/Concessions | £7 17-20s | £5 12-16s | FREE accompanied u12s
