Pete Tscherewik (words) & Stefan Willoughby (pics) at HQ
THE Magpies were denied a New Year’s Day point at the last second as Fylde took the points at the Chorley Group Victory Park Stadium.
Both sides started with good intentions, albeit without any chances of note in the early exchanges, aside a Siya Ligendza effort that flashed wide of Matt Urwin’s goal.
Adam Blakeman was alert to Jordan Cranston’s corner when clearing the ball off the line, before Billy Whitehouse forced the first save of the afternoon out of Chris Neal. Both teams in at the break with little to show bar midfield endeavour.
The first opportunity after the restart fell to Ollie Shenton after Connor Hall played the ball into the midfielder’s path; Neal was equal to the effort following a well-worked move.
The Magpies’ best chance of the game then fell to Hall, with Whitehouse swinging the ball in from the left for Chorley’s leading scorer, who was inches away from getting on the end of it.
Then the game changed as Nick Haughton and Luke Charman entered for the visitors and the pressure began to mount. Corners and free kicks flying into the box, but only one save needed from Urwin off a Mo Faal turn-and-shot.
Unfortunately, one final set piece was the home side’s undoing as the Coasters split the festive doubleheader deep in injury time; skipper Alex Whitmore getting his head on a Haughton deadball and finding the corner of the net.
Chorley Urwin; Henley, Wilson, Leather (c), Nolan, Whitehouse, Calveley, Ustabaşı, Shenton (Tomlinson, 78′), Blakeman (Johnson, 90’+4), Hall (Owens, 85′). Subs not used: Smith, Scarborough.
Fylde Neal; Cranston (Haughton, 68′), Obi, Whitmore (c), Philliskirk, Faal, Conlan, Barrett, Whitehead (Rowley, 78′, Hatfield, Ligendza (Charman, 69′). Subs not used: Burke, Morrison.
Man of the Match Billy Whitehouse
Gutted for the lads as they’ve put everything into the game today. We’re right in amongst it with half the season gone and we’ve now got to attack the final 23 games – Andy Preece
HT 0-0
Goals (assists) None | Whitmore 90’+3 (Haughton)
Cautions Leather 80′, Tomlinson 90’+2, Blakeman 90’+3 | Obi 24′, Philliskirk 81′
Dismissals None | None
Officials Richard Aspinall | Jonny Wyatt & Joe Cunningham
Crowd 2,173
Next Up
Our first away game of 2023 takes us to league leaders Darlington – Saturday, January 7 (3pm). Entry to Blackwell Meadows can be bought online here and costs £17/15 adults | £13/11 Concessions | £7/5 12-17s | FREE accompanied u12s (Seating/Standing).
*Concessions = 65+/Disabled/Student/18-24s
