Words: James Ede, Image: David Airey
CHORLEY travel down to Telford on Tuesday night looking to put Saturday’s home defeat past them and close the gap to the play-offs.
The Magpies were narrowly beaten 1-0 by Radcliffe at Victory Park at the weekend, which came after back-to-back victories over Merthyr Town and Southport.
AFC Telford United currently sit just outside the top seven, one point behind Macclesfield.
Last Time Out
Chorley were disappointed and unfortunate to fall to defeat against Bernard Morley’s Radcliffe on Saturday in a tight game.
Kian Scales’ late winner was enough for the Boro to claim all three points and end the Magpies’ run of two straight victories.
In a cagey game in front of goal for both sides, strike duo Tom Carr and Anjola Popoola struggled to get chances away early on before the visitors fought their way back into the game.
Referee Stuart Morland allowed few challenges to go unpunished in an end-to-end first half.
Warren Clarke came closest to breaking the deadlock before the break, seeing his drilled effort saved by the feet of Mateusz Hewelt.
Taelor O’Kane had several chances in front of goal in the second half, with the biggest opportunity seeing the ball get stuck under his feet in a muddy goalmouth.
The game was won in the 84th minute when Scales let fly from 30 yards out and saw his shot fly past Matt Urwin into the top right corner.
A stoppage time equaliser almost came in the 96th minute through Anjola Popoola, but his effort hit the post before being cleared off the line by Hewelt.
Defeat leaves Chorley in 14th place, now seven points off the play-offs.
Opposition Focus
Kevin Wilkin’s Telford side are enioying their return to the National League North, sitting in 8th place with 47 points from 30 games.
The Bucks won promotion through the Southern League Premier Division Central play-offs, beating Kettering Town 4-2 in the final.
Key man Matty Stenson, who scored 32 goals last season, is again the club’s top-scorer with 16 goals in 24 games, making him the division’s sixth most clinical striker.
Remi Walker is also having a successful season, notching 10 goals from midfield.
With just two league defeats in the past three months, they pose a tough challenge for the Magpies, although they did lose 3-1 at Worksop Town last week.
Wilkin was appointed as the club’s manager in October 2022.
He was unable to save them from relegation before ending as play-off finalists in his first full season in charge.
They overcame heartbreak to become play-off final winners last year and are now pushing for a place in the top seven.
Head-to-Head
The Magpies triumphed 3-1 at home in the reverse fixture back in September, coming back from Adan George’s early opener.
Goals from Tom Carr, Adam Henley and Craig Hewitt secured all three points, which continued the good start to the season for Andy Preece’s side.
In the Bucks’ last year in Step 2, 2022/23, both sides won 1-0 at home with Harvey Smith finding the winner for the Magpies at Victory Park.
Match Details
AFC Telford United vs Chorley
Enterprise National League North
Tuesday, February 17
7.45pm kick-off
SEAH Stadium, Telford, TF1 2TU
