Words: James Ede, Image: David Airey
CHORLEY are on the road again this week as they make the short trip to third-placed Radcliffe.
The Magpies are looking to get back to winning ways but will look to follow up their last outing with the Boro, a 5-0 home victory in April.
Bernard Morley and Anthony Johnson’s side head into the fixture unbeaten in the league since 2 September but have kept just three clean sheets this season, setting it up to be a close encounter.
Last Time Out
The Magpies will be looking to put Tuesday night’s 0-1 defeat to Alfreton Town at Victory Park behind them, a game which was settled by an early Billy Fewster goal for the visitors.
Four changes were made by Andy Preece from the weekend’s loss at Peterborough Sports, including Warren Clarke deputising at left-back for the suspended Adam Blakeman.
The Reds made a quickfire start to the game, striking Billy Fewster in the second minute.
The goal forced Preece’s side to take control and they threatened with efforts from Lucas Weaver and Tom Carr.
Both teams struggled with the wet pitch as the game grew into an end-to-end affair, with Milan Lalkovic’s scuffed shot the last chance of the first half.
Despite being on the receiving end of several controversial decisions from referee Lewis Dawson, the Magpies continued to fight hard but struggled to create any clear-cut opportunities.
Frustration grew among the home side despite the best efforts of Chorley’s substitutes to make an impact on the game.
The game petered out to a victory for Alfreton, leaving the Magpies in 11th place in the Enterprise National League North, three points off the play-off spots.
Opposition Focus
Saturday’s hosts Radcliffe are in good spirits after back-to-back wins and have lost just once at the Neuven Stadium all season.
They currently sit third in the division with 28 points from 14 games, seven points behind South Shields and AFC Fylde, but have two games in hand on the latter.
They also have one of the league’s top-scorers in Rio Clegg, who has fired in 10 goals in just 14 games.
The striker joined this summer from Step 4 side Trafford, having scored 20 goals in the NPL Division One West last year.
The Boro’s squad holds a lot of experience from the likes of Mark Halstead, Callum McFadzean, Lois Maynard, Dan Gardner, Jon Taylor and Hallam Hope, with 12 promotions from the National League, League Two or League One being shared between the six.
The club was promoted back to Step 2 for the first time in 20 years in 2024, having been crowned champions of the NPL Premier Division.
Morley and Johnson were appointed as co-managers in 2023 and guided the club to promotion in their first season before finishing 20th last season.
Head-to-Head
The Magpies’ 5-0 win at Victory Park in April featured a brace from Tom Carr, along with goals for Kole Hall, Courtney Senior and Mark Ellis.
Two months earlier, the Boro won 2-0 with goals from Rick Smith and Jordan Hulme.
Match Details
Radcliffe vs Chorley
Enterprise National League North
Saturday, November 8
3pm kick-off
Neuven Stadium, Radcliffe, M26 3PE
