Words: James Ede, Image: David Airey
CHORLEY host Alfreton Town this Tuesday night off the back of Saturday’s narrow defeat at Peterborough Sports.
Andy Preece’s side fought hard following Adam Henley’s sending off in the first half but were unable to grab an equaliser, with the home side coming out 2-1 winners.
The Magpies’ midweek opponents picked up a point at home to Kidderminster Harriers but still sit in the relegation zone, 22nd out of 24 teams.
Last Time Out
Chorley return home after last weekend’s disappointing defeat in Cambridgeshire.
The Magpies made the long trip, worsened by a flat tyre on the motorway, to Peterborough Sports without the suspended Adam Blakeman and Mike Calveley, but were buoyed by the return of Jack Sampson and Taelor O’Kane from injury.
Sports were gifted an early opener after Adam Henley’s clearance deflected to Luca Miller and he quickly found Matt Urwin’s bottom left corner.
Chorley fought back well though and were level in the 27th minute through Tom Carr’s fourth goal of the season, with the attacker neatly curling home from Sampson’s pass.
However, for the second time in as many weeks, they were then reduced to 10 men when Henley was controversially deemed to have blocked Kaine Felix’s shot with his arm.
Ben Beresford stepped up to take the resulting penalty but his poor effort was comfortably saved by Urwin in goal.
The Turbines did reclaim their lead though in the 48th minute through Dan Jarvis’ curling finish.
Mark Ellis came unlucky in hitting the crossbar from inside the box and Warren Clarke was on the receiving end of a rough tackle from Beresford that only received a booking, but the Magpies were unable to find an equaliser.
The defeat means Chorley drop down to tenth in the league, sitting two points outside the play-offs.
Opposition Focus
Alfreton head to Victory Park winless in five games and with recently appointed boss Jake Buxton in charge.
The former Mansfield Town and Derby County midfielder took over last month following the departure of long-serving manager Billy Heath in September.
Ofton finished 14th in the Enterprise National League North last season but have struggled so far this year, collecting just 11 points from 14 games.
Their 1-1 draw with Kidderminster at the Impact Arena was rescued by Siyabonga Ligendza’s 97th-minute equaliser, which cancelled out Tobi Sho-Silva’s first-half opener.
Their squad includes former Wolverhampton Wanderers and Morecambe keeper Harry Burgoyne and ex-Leicester City and Rangers attacker Joseph Dodoo, both of whom signed for the Derbyshire club this summer.
Ligendza, Billy Fewster and Jed Abbey are currently tied on two goals, the most in the Red’s squad.
In Buxton’s four games in charge so far, they have picked up two points, drawing twice and losing twice.
Head-to-Head
In last season’s meetings, the home side came out as winners on both occasions.
Alfreton won 1-0 in November through Liam Waldock’s goal, but the Magpies bounced back at Victory Park as a Mike Calveley double secured all three points in March.
Match Details
Chorley vs Alfreton Town
Enterprise National League North
Tuesday, November 4
7.45pm kick-off
Victory Park, Chorley, PR7 3DU
