Words: James Ede, Image: David Airey
CHORLEY return to Victory Park looking to make it three home wins in a row as relegation-threatened Curzon Ashton head to Lancashire.
Andy Preece’s Magpies succumbed to a 2-1 defeat at Marine on Easter Monday, continuing their up-and-down form.
For Curzon, a 3-1 defeat at home to Southport, combined with Hereford’s win on Wednesday night, sees them sitting just four points above the drop, with the Bulls having two games in hand on them.
Last Time Out
Following on from Good Friday’s 2-0 win against the odds against league leaders AFC Fylde, the Magpies made the short trip to Marine on Monday afternoon, with a play-off place still mathematically possible but unlikely.
The hosts took an early lead on Merseyside, number seven Finlay Sinclair-Smith slotting home on the break after 12 minutes.
It was made 2-0 just after the half-hour mark as Charlie Jolley beat the offside trap before rounding Matt Urwin to score.
The visitors tried to hit back in the second half but struggled for clear opportunities, Scott Wilson seeing his shot cleared off the line by a Marine man.
But they did grab a goal back with substitutes Tom Walker and Owen German linking up to make it 2-1 with 20 minutes to play.
A cross-field ball was brought down well by Walker, who found the onrushing German on the edge of the box and the Altrincham loanee finished with composure into the bottom corner for his first Magpies goal.
However, their search for an equaliser was dealt a blow when Wilson received a second yellow card for pulling back Sinclair-Smith with the attacker through on goal.
A final chance came with Sam Bird heading over from a corner but Andy Preece’s side were unable to find that second goal, leaving the home side to take all three points.
Opposition Focus
Saturday’s visitors Curzon Ashton are in a run of just three points in 10 games, which has seen them dragged into the relegation fight.
A 3-1 win at home over Worksop Town on 21st February saw them in 12th position and 14 points clear of the bottom four, but three draws and seven defeats since then have seen them slide down the table.
On Easter Monday, Tony Weston’s equaliser against a resurgent Southport gave them hope of a point but goals from Jordan Keane and Arthur Gnahoua won the game for the away side.
Their 81 goals conceded is only better than Leamington and Peterborough Sports, the bottom two sides in the division.
Defender Adam Barton took over as player-manager in March, replacing Mark Bradshaw, who only took over in the summer after the departure of Craig Mahon to Fylde.
Barton signed for the club in 2021 from Farsley Celtic after previously playing for Preston North End and Coventry City in the Championship and League One.
He also won a single cap for Northern Ireland in 2010, before playing for the Republic of Ireland U21s.
Weston is the side’s top-scorer this season with 15 goals, closely followed by Alex Curran (13) and Bradley Holmes (11).
Head-to-Head
The sides’ previous meeting in September resulted in a 2-0 win for Curzon, Jimmy Spencer and Holmes scoring at home for them.
The 2024/25 campaign saw the Magpies lose 3-0 both home and away.
Match Details
Chorley vs Curzon Ashton
Enterprise National League North
Saturday, April 11
3pm kick-off
Victory Park, Chorley, PR7 3DU
