Words: James Ede, Image: David Airey
CHORLEY'S path to the first-round proper of the FA Cup continues this weekend with a third qualifying round tie at Enterprise National League North table-toppers South Shields.
The Magpies progressed past 8th-tier Congleton Town thanks to Bradford City loanee Harry Ibbitson’s goal in the last round but will face a tougher test against Ian Watson’s high-flying Mariners.
His side are unbeaten in nine league games so far this season and sit three points clear at the top of the league ahead of Scarborough Athletic, with Chorley a further point behind.
Last Time Out
The Magpies will be in good spirits following their added-time win against Macclesfield last week, which continued their good start to the season and made it three wins in a row in all competitions.
Manager Andy Preece opted for four changes from the Congleton victory as Adam Henley, Harvey Smith, Joe Nolan and Warren Clarke replaced Jack Moore, George Pratt, Luke Summerfield and Tom Walker.
The game could not have got off to a much better start for the hosts as Mark Ellis’ aerial challenge from an Adam Blakeman corner produced a hand ball from a Silkmen defender and resulted in a penalty.
Craig Hewitt stepped up from the spot and calmly sent Max Dearnley the wrong way to make it 1-0 to Chorley.
Jon Rooney’s side replied well though and were unlucky to have not one but two goals ruled out for offside, both coming from Danny Elliott, with the second appearing to be controversial.
Ellis then almost doubled the Magpies’ lead after good play between Mike Calveley and Tom Carr but the centre-back’s finish was denied brilliantly by Dearnley.
Elliott had another chance to draw his side level before the break but this time, despite being offside, he curled over the bar.
It did not take long in the second half for the Silkmen to equalise as winger Sean Etaluku cut in from the right and curled an effort all the way into Matt Urwin’s top corner.
However, on the hour mark, referee John Mulligan pointed to the spot for the second time in the game and again it was in the home side’s favour.
Ibbitson pressed Danny Whitehead back into his own box and forced him to bring the striker down, which gave Hewitt the chance to double his tally from 12 yards and he duly did.
Despite heavy rain affecting playing conditions and making it difficult to play on the floor, Macclesfield attacked relentlessly and Etaluku almost equalled Hewitt with a wonderful solo goal but the post kept his effort out.
The Magpies then had their own unlucky refereeing decision as Mulligan decided that Josh Kay had not brought Ibbitson down unfairly just outside the box, despite furious appeals from the hosts.
Straight up the other end of the pitch, Justin Johnson’s scuffed effort got stuck on the goal line but Elliott tapped home to make it 2-2 with just minutes left.
Ibbitson missed an amazing chance to be Chorley’s hero but, come the 95th minute, it did not matter as Smith won the game for the Magpies.
Blakeman’s long-throw bounced awkwardly in the box and Smith reacted instantly to finish past Dearnley, resulting in amazing scenes of jubilation at Victory Park.
The defender’s goal sealed all three points for a delighted Preece and his side to keep them third in the division with 19 points from nine games.
Opposition Focus
The Magpies’ opponents for the next two weekends, South Shields, have started the campaign in fine form, dropping just four points from a possible 27 and having the league’s best defence, having conceded just four goals.
The Mariners started with five wins in a row, including a 4-0 thrashing of Chester, and knocked out seventh-tier Guiseley in the FA Cup second qualifying round with a 2-1 win.
Ian Watson was appointed in the summer after the club finished 17th last year, 15 points clear of relegation, and Mike Williamson’s former right-hand man has worked wonders so far.
Goalkeeper Jasper Sheik, defender Ethan Mann and winger Sean McGurk have been brought in from EFL sides, while former National League play-off final winner Cedwyn Scott arrived from Carlisle United.
Fellow striker Paul Blackett, who scored 22 goals last season, has remained at the club and he currently leads the club’s scoring charts for this season with six goals in nine games.
Last weekend, they came back from Curzon Ashton with three points after goals from Blackett and Caden Kelly helped them to a 2-1 win.
Head-to-Head
In the first meeting between the sides last season, South Shields scored a 95th minute equaliser to level the game at 3-3 after goals from Kole Hall, Momodou Touray and Mark Ellis had given the Magpies the lead.
In the return fixture at Victory Park, goals from both Touray and Ellis again gave the hosts a 2-1 win to make it five wins in a row in the second half of the season.
Match details
South Shields vs Chorley
FA Cup Third Qualifying Round
Saturday, September 27
3pm kick-off
1st Cloud Arena, South Shields, NE32 3UP
