Alex Birch (words) & Stefan Willoughby (pics) at HQ
THE Magpies came from behind twice to grab a point against Buxton in a lively encounter at the Chorley Group Victory Park Stadium.
On a bitterly cold day neither side really got going in the opening 20 minutes. There were plenty of headers and tackles won, and the odd set piece floated into the box, otherwise it was a tough watch.
Buxton should have taken the lead on the half hour, however, after Jack Sampson’s foul on Warren Clarke produced a penalty, Matt Urwin brilliantly saved Tom Elliott’s spot kick, before standing big to shutdown the rebound, preserving the tie.
Then, as time expired in the first half, the visitors deservedly hit the front. Jak McCourt’s free kick dropped at the back post and eventually found the boot of sub Declan Poole who dispatched from a yard out.
Matt Urwin saves Tom Elliott’s penalty
The second half was all over the place as the fouls and chances clicked up a notch or five. Chorley were in the ascendancy for much of it, and after Theo Richardson saved superbly from Scott Wilson, Andy Preece’s men finally grabbed an equaliser.
Wilson was the architect, as his 70th minute ball into the box fell to the boot of Connor Hall, who did the rest from five yards. The euphoria lasted less than two minutes as Warren Clarke headed the Bucks back into the lead, as the game continued to twist and turn.
The Magpies didn’t give up, however, and when sub Harry Scarborough was felled in the box by away skipper Josh Granite, Hall levelled matters from 12 yards to secure a much-deserved point.
Chorley Urwin (c); Henley, Smith, Wilson, Calveley, Sampson (Nolan, 46′), Ustabaşı, Shenton, Blakeman, Johnson (Scarborough, 63′), Hall. Subs not used: Leather, Whitehouse, Kay.
Buxton Richardson; Brown, Conway, Granite (c), Kirby, Elliott (Di Girolamo, 86′), Clarke (Barnett, 75′), Hull, McCourt, Jackson (Poole, 35′), Ackroyd. Subs not used: Brisley, Dawson.
Man Of The Match Connor Hall
Credit to the lads for showing the belief and the desire to come back, not once but twice. We weren’t at it in the first half, but the second half was a lot better and we deserved at least the point that we got – Andy Preece
HT 0-1
Goals (assists) Hall 70′ (Calveley), Hall 82′ (Scarborough) | Poole 45’+3, Clarke 72′
Cautions Sampson 28′, Henley 57′, Smith 90′ | McCourt 82′, Kirby 88′
Dismissals None | None
Crowd 1,120
Officials Dale Baines | Emily Carney & Adam Watson
HT Draw 1st 1201 (£74) | 2nd 1370 (£44) | 3rd 1438 (£29)
Next Up
The third of three straight at HQ – Boston United in town on Tuesday for a rearranged game. Tickets online or at the turnstiles – £15 Adults | £12 65+/Concessions | £7 17-20s | £5 12-16s | FREE Accompanied u12s
