Words: James Ede, Image: David Airey
CHORLEY return to the Grant Store Victory Park Stadium after three straight away games, as league leaders AFC Fylde make the short trip on Good Friday.
Defeat for Andy Preece’s side would mathematically rule them out of the play-off race, whilst Fylde will want to strengthen their gap at the top of the table, with South Shields sitting four points behind them with a game in hand.
In a Lancashire derby, the Magpies will hope to keep their season going and end their three-match winless run.
Last Time Out
Tuesday night saw Chorley travel down to Derbyshire to face Alfreton Town at the Solana Stadium.
But it was a night to forget for Preece and his men as they fell to a 1-0 defeat to the relegation strugglers.
The visitors threatened to take the lead in the opening period of play but it was the hosts who troubled the scoreline when defender Joe Cummings tapped home in the 25th minute.
Persistent attacking from the Magpies could not find a way past goalkeeper Charlie Casper, with Harry Ibbitson’s shot on the break the closest to an equaliser.
A chance for Taelor O’Kane from the edge of the box was also not strong enough to properly test Casper, before Dylan Youmbi fired a sharp effort at Matt Urwin at the other end of the pitch.
Time ran out for the Magpies to grab a point and they returned home in 15th place in the Enterprise National League North on 50 points from 41 games.
Opposition Focus
Craig Mahon’s Fylde side will be in high spirits ahead of the weekend after goals from loanees Adam Lewis and Conor McAleny sealed a 2-0 win for them at home to Marine.
The latter’s goal also marked their 100th league goal of the season, coming in their 41st game.
29 wins and four draws see them on 91 points with five games to play, looking to repeat their title-winning campaigns of 2017 and 2023.
A run of one point in three games for South Shields helped the Coasters to take first position, despite a 1-0 defeat at Worksop Town three games ago.
Teenage striker Danny Ormerod, formerly of Chorley, sits top of the league’s scoring charts with 27 goals in 37 games, with teammates Luca Thomas (17) and another ex-Magpie Jonathan Ustabasi (16) also in the top ten.
The EFL experience of Danny Mayor, Ryan Colclough and recent arrival McAleny has been blended with the young talent of Preston North End teenager Felipe Rodriguez-Gentile, who has five goals and three assists in 11 matches since signing on loan.
Boss Mahon took over the side in the summer after time at Curzon Ashton as player-manager and the 36-year-old Irishman has held a 63.4% win rate since his arrival.
Head-to-Head
In their Boxing Day encounter, the promotion chasers prevailed through a Ormerod goal in a 1-0 win at Mill Farm.
Before that, the Magpies’ last meetings with the Coasters came in back-to-back affairs in the 2022/23 season.
Goals from Connor Hall and Ustabasi secured all three points on Boxing Day before Alex Whitmore’s late winner gave Fylde an away victory on New Year’s Day.
Match Details
Chorley v AFC Fylde
Enterprise National League North
Friday, April 3
3pm kick-off
Victory Park, Chorley, PR7 3DU
