Pete Tscherewik (words) & James Harrison (pics) at Latimer Park
THE Magpies came away from Latimer Park with a point after a pulsating game against Kettering Town.
The visitors struggled to get a foothold in the first half and found themselves a goal behind after just 14 minutes. On loan forward Jimmy Knowles, who would be voted home man of the match, headed home from Keaton Ward’s cross.
Kettering kept the pressure on through to the break, but couldn’t find a second from a couple of half chances, the best falling to Knowles, who was denied by a combination of Urwin and Scott Wilson.
The Magpies came out with more purpose after the break and got back on terms within ten minutes of the restart. Jon Ustabaşı grabbing his third goal in as many games after robbing Ellis Myles on halfway, scooting away down the left wing and finishing low beyond Owen Mason from the edge of the box.
A Decarrey Sheriff spot kick, after he was fouled by Harvey Smith, gave the hosts a second advantage with 20 minutes to go, before Billy Whitehouse got Chorley back on terms for a second time. A low volley off an Ustabaşı cross giving Mason no chance.
Then, as injury time loomed, Connor Hall nodded home Adam Blakeman’s free kick for his 20th league goal of the season to give the Magpies a first lead of the afternoon.
Unfortunately that wasn’t the end of the scoring. Kettering having the final say in injury time when George Cooper somehow bundled the ball home to snatch a point for the Poppies.
Kettering Mason; Gascoigne, Stohrer (c), Knowles, Ward, Sharpe, Cooper, Hill, Myles, Forsyth (Lewthwaite, 89′), Sheriff. Subs not used: White, Bennett, Sault, Hogg.
Chorley Urwin (c); Henley, Smith, Wilson, Nolan (Shenton, 75′), Whitehouse, Calveley, Ustabaşı, Finney (Blakeman, 69′), Scarborough (Johnson, 75′), Hall. Subs not used: Leather, Drench.
Getting a point at Kettering is a good result but to get ahead late on and not hold on is disappointing. However, it’s another point, another difficult game where we’ve showed character and we head into the last eight games with confidence – Andy Preece
HT 1-0
Goals (assists) Knowles 14′ (Ward), Sheriff 67′, Cooper 90’+3 | Ustabaşı 54′, Whitehouse 79′ (Ustabaşı), Hall 88′ (Blakeman)
Cautions None | Whitehouse 64′, Blakeman 90’+4
Dismissals None | None
Crowd 674
Officials Darren Rogers | Scott Mason & Lewis Saunders-Johnson
Next Up
We return home next Saturday to battle Banbury United (3pm); £15 Adults | £12 65+/Concessions | £7 17-20s | £5 12-16s | FREE Accompanied u12s (online here or at the turnstiles)
