Words: James Ede, Image: David Airey
CHORLEY return home to Victory Park after a dramatic late win at play-off chasing Macclesfield at the weekend.
Mike Calveley’s 95th-minute winner sealed a memorable comeback from the Magpies at the Leasing.com Stadium and puts them in a good mood ahead of Tuesday night.
League leaders South Shields will be the visitors for a fixture which is set to be broadcast live on DAZN.
Last Time Out
After more than 10 days without a game, Andy Preece’s side returned to action in Cheshire against John Rooney’s Macclesfield, still revelling in their historic FA Cup giant killing over holder Crystal Palace at the start of the year.
It was the hosts that made an electric start, almost taking the lead inside 30 seconds, but Adam Blakeman’s goal line block prevented Luke Duffy from an early goal.
The Silkmen continued to pen the visitors inside their own half and saw James Gale’s goal disallowed by referee Zach Cunningham for handball.
A wayward header from Mike Calveley was the Magpies’ only chance of the first half but they made it to the break level at 0-0.
Their resistance was ended however in the 50th minute when Isaac Buckley-Ricketts curled in from Luke Matheson’s cross to give the home side the lead.
Gale squandered a one-on-one chance with Matt Urwin before Chorley’s goalkeeper excellently tipped Duffy’s freekick past the post to keep his team in the game.
They found an equaliser through Mark Ellis on the hour mark, with the centre-back bundling the ball home with the help of a Macclesfield defender from Jack Moore’s set-piece.
Andy Preece switched formation to a three-man defence, bringing on Sam Bird in the back three and Warren Clarke at left wing-back and both performed brilliantly.
Gale had another chance to double his side’s tally but again was denied by Urwin, this time the keeper expertly getting down to stop him.
At the other end of the pitch, Harry Ibbitson’s pass gave Tom Carr the chance to go through on goal and repeat his Merthyr Town heroics but he was sinfully brought down by Macc skipper Sam Heathcote.
Referee Cunningham opted against sending the defender off but it gave Moore the opportunity to test out Rogan Ravenhill in the dying minutes.
His freekick deflected up onto the crossbar before bouncing off the back of Ravenhill, where Calveley reacted quickly to stab home from two yards and induce bedlam in the away end.
Macclesfield midfielder Josh Kay received a red card following the final whistle whilst the travelling Magpies basked in the glory of their second-half comeback.
They now sit in 14th on 45 points, 11 points off the play-offs with 11 games to go.
Opposition Focus
Ian Watson’s South Shields will arrive at Victory Park high on confidence with a four-point gap separating them from AFC Fylde at the top of the league.
The Mariners’ 3-0 win over Curzon Ashton on Saturday was their fourth in a row and the 15th consecutive game in which they have not come out on the losing side.
Paul Blackett scored his 22nd goal of the season at the weekend, either side of goals from Sean McGurk and Daniel Dodds.
After finishing 17th in the 2024/25 campaign, Watson took over in the summer and has propelled the North East side to the top of the table.
Blackett has been supported by former Notts County man Cedwyn Scott, who has found the back of the net 17 times himself.
Middlesbrough youngster Sonny Finch has also been influential since joining the club on loan in January.
A big win over title rivals Fylde last Tuesday saw two quickfire goals from Blackett and McGurk seal a 2-1 victory for Watson’s side, with ex-Chorley man Danny Ormerod scoring a late consolation goal.
Head-to-Head
The Magpies have not fared well against the Mariners in two previous meetings this season, coming out on the losing side in back-to-back weeks at the 1st Cloud Arena.
A 4-1 win knocked Chorley out of the FA Cup in the third qualifying round at the end of September, before that was followed up by a 2-0 victory seven days later.
However, goals from both Momodou Touray and Mark Ellis again gave the Magpies a 2-1 win at home last season, and the pair also scored alongside Kole Hall in a 3-3 draw in Tyne and Wear.
Match Details
Chorley vs South Shields
Enterprise National League North
Saturday, March 10
7.45pm kick-off
Victory Park, Chorley, PR7 3DU
