Words: James Ede, Image: David Airey
CHORLEY return to Victory Park for the first time in three weeks for their Enterprise National League North match against Oxford City this Saturday.
The Magpies have suffered consecutive away defeats to league leaders South Shields in the FA Cup and the league these past two weekends but will be more confident against the 22nd-placed Hoops.
Ross Jenkins’ side have won just twice in 10 league games this season but took four points off Andy Preece’s side in 2024/25.
Last Time Out
Last Saturday saw the Magpies return to the 1st Cloud Arena just a week after their 4-1 FA Cup Third Round defeat for their first league meeting of the season with high-flying South Shields.
After making five changes for the cup tie, Preece reverted to the team which beat Macclesfield 3-2 in the side’s last league game, meaning Adam Henley, Harvey Smith, Mike Calveley, Warren Clarke and Tom Carr all returned to the starting lineup.
Following on from the previous week, the Mariners once again dominated possession and main man Paul Blackett forced Matt Urwin into two early low saves.
Teammate, Dan Ward then beat Urwin to open the scoring for the hosts after 20 minutes.
Daniel Dodds beat Adam Blakeman for pace down Chorley’s left flank and, although Cedwyn Scott failed to tap home, the ball found Ward, who teased Urwin into a dive before cooly finishing.
Despite the goal, the Magpies keeper was in great form, excellently tipping over strikes from Ward and Blackett in either half.
Craig Hewitt’s curling free-kick was the closest Chorley came to troubling Jasper Sheik in goal on a day which again demonstrated Shields’ technical ability.
The game was won with five minutes left when, for the second time in as many weeks, Blackett converted from the spot after being the man to win the penalty.
After a well-worked team move, Blackett sought his way into the box before being brought down by Mark Ellis and then firing his kick past Urwin.
The result meant Chorley dropped one place to fifth, now having 19 points from 10 games so far and seven points short of the leaders South Shields.
Opposition Focus
Oxford City come into this game off the back of seven defeats in their last eight games in all competitions, including a 3-2 loss at 8th-tier Westbury United which saw them exit the FA Cup.
In between those defeats was a 5-0 hammering of Alfreton Town at the start of September but it has been tough for Jenkins’ men since then with luckless trips to Buxton and Scarborough Athletic before last week’s 2-1 loss at home to Curzon Ashton.
Ewan Clark’s goal cancelled out the Nash’s early opener at the start of the second half but Ben Darby won it for the visitors in the 77th minute.
Their squad contains former Football League striker Josh Parker, who fired in 14 goals for the Hoops in Step 1 in 2023/24 and has scored in both of their wins this season.
Fellow forward Zac McEachran is into his ninth year with the club and has played over 300 games, while veteran midfielder Alfie Potter is a former League Two promotion winner with Northampton Town.
Parker and McEachran are tied with DJ Sturridge, Tom Scott and Isaac Westendorf on two goals this season.
Head-to-Head
Both fixtures between the Magpies and Hoops ended in draws last season – 2-2 at the MGroup Stadium and 0-0 at Victory Park.
A second-half fightback with goals from Mike Calveley and Craig Hewitt rescued Andy Preece’s side in the away game after being 2-0 down at the break.
Match Details
Chorley v Oxford City
Enterprise National League North
Saturday, October 11
3pm kick-off
Grant Store Victory Park Stadium, Chorley, PR7 3DU
