THE Magpies’ playoff hopes were dented on a wet Easter Monday as they went down 3-2 at home to Scarborough Athletic.
Adam Blakeman got Chorley off to the perfect start in the opening five minutes, hammering home his first of the season from 30 yards past a stationary Joe Cracknell.
The visitors quickly got back on terms though, Kieran Weledji heading in from Lewis Maloney’s lofted free-kick just 10 minutes in.
The topsy-turvy nature of the game continued when Jack Sampson headed the Magpies back in front as he rose highest to meet Billy Whitehouse’s cross with barely 20 minutes on the clock.
Matt Urwin then made a fantastic double save to deny Michael Coulson and Danny Greenfield to keep the score at 2-1, before the crossbar denied Jon Ustabaşı and the Magpies a third on the stroke of half time.
The home side were made the rue that miss as Scarborough came out of the blocks quickly after the restart. Urwin again somehow keeping the the ball out after a massive goalmouth scramble, as well as saving from Weledji and Jake Charles.
The Seadogs continued to gather momentum and eventually the pressure told when substitute Greenfield fired home a loose ball with 20 minutes to go.
The midfielder was then in the right place at the right time to win the game for the Seadogs with just 11 to play, sending his side up to fourth and leaving the Magpies with an uphill task to make the post-season.
Chorley Urwin; Henley, Wilson, Leather (c) (Scarborough, 87′), Whitehouse (Tomlinson, 75′), Calveley, Sampson, Ustabaşı, Shenton (Nolan, 62′), Blakeman, Johnson. Subs not used: Challoner, Finney.
Scarborough Cracknell; Weledji, Jackson, Maloney, Thornton, Gooda (Charles, 41′), Coulson (c), Glynn, Qualter, Heslop (Greenfield, 29′), Wiles (Tear, 66′). Subs not used: Watson, Burton.
Man of the Match Adam Blakeman
For as well as we played in the first half we just didn’t do the same in the second half and Scarborough took full advantage – Andy Preece
HT 2-1
Goals (assists) Blakeman 3′ (Calveley), Sampson 20′ (Whitehouse) | Weledji 10′ (Maloney), Greenfield 69′, Greenfield 77′ (Glynn)
Cautions Calveley 35′, Leather 45’+3, Johnson 58′ | Glynn 79′, Coulson 90’+3
Dismissals None | None
Crowd 1,236
HT Draw 1st 01523 | 2nd 02510 | 3rd 1540
Golden Goal 3 minutes
Officials Ben Wyatt | Francis Sibley & Jamie Waters
Next Up
We head for Leamington on Saturday. Tickets available online here or at the gate – £14 Adults | £10 Concessions | £7 Students | £4 Under-18s | FREE Under-12s