Words: James Ede, Image: David Airey
CHORLEY make the long journey to Peterborough Sports this weekend with the aim of getting back to winning ways.
The Magpies have struggled of late but will still fancy their chances at PIMS Park, where they will come up against former Premier League boss Phil Brown.
Brown's side picked up just their third win of the season at Southport on Tuesday night and will be hoping to make it two in two.
Last Time Out
Chorley’s 20-game home unbeaten run was ended last Saturday by Merthyr Town and hotshot forward Ricardo Rees, whose brace took him to the top of the division’s scoring charts with 11 goals.
The game began in unique circumstances as a delay in the Martyrs’ kit arriving at the ground forced them into wearing the hosts’ away kit for the first half, as well as pushing kick-off back to 3:15 pm.
As expected, Rees was the visitors’ danger man and caused problems for Mark Ellis and Scott Wilson at the back with his pace and directness.
Despite lively signs from Craig Hewitt down the left wing, the home side struggled to create chances and were dealt a significant blow in the 39th minute when Adam Blakeman received a straight red card.
His challenge, right in front of the referee was deemed a serious offence and meant the Magpies went down to 10 men.
And it went from bad to worse on the brink of half-time as Rees made it 1-0, poking past Matt Urwin from a tight angle after Will Spiers’ through ball.
Although Ellis’ looping header minutes later almost drew Chorley level, they went into the break a goal and a man down.
Merthyr controlled play in the second half and were gifted the opportunity to double their lead after 72 minutes when Urwin brought down one of their attackers inside the box.
Ellis’ header back towards goal was intercepted and Urwin could not do much else than bring the man down, which allowed Rees to step up from 12 yards and score his second of the game.
The hosts’ best effort came from Wilson’s header, which Jaimie Cogman smothered, and the game petered out to a 2-0 win for the visitors.
A result that meant the Magpies dropped out of the play-off places, down to eighth with 21 points, but a win against Peterborough Sports could push them back up into the top seven.
Opposition Focus
Phil Brown’s Peterborough Sports side head into this weekend’s fixture with two wins in their past five games, coming against Southport and Kidderminster Harriers.
Doncaster Rovers loanee Sam Straughan-Brown’s 97th minute goal won the game for the Turbines at Hague Avenue on Tuesday, sealing their comeback from 2-1 down.
Their squad includes Gambian international Mustapha Carayol, formerly of Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest in the Championship, as well as experienced forward Shaquile Coulthirst.
Fellow attacker Josiah Dyer is their top-scorer this campaign with two goals.
They finished 12th in the National League North last season under the dual management of Michael Gash and Luke Steele, but they were sacked in September with the club bottom of the league, leading to Brown’s appointment.
In his five games so far, they have picked up seven points and moved up to 21st in the table, sitting just two points from safety with a game in hand.
Brown’s previous achievements include getting Hull promoted to the topflight in 2008 and winning the EFL Trophy and League Two play-offs in a five-year spell at Southend United.
Head-to-Head
Chorley were unbeaten against the Turbines last season, winning 1-0 at Lincoln Road and drawing 0-0 at home.
The away victory was on the opening day of the 2024/25 campaign, with Momodou Touray’s penalty securing all three points for Andy Preece’s side.
Match Details
Peterborough Sports vs Chorley
Enterprise National League North
Saturday, November 1
3pm kick-off
PIMS Park, Peterborough, PE1 3HA
