CHORLEY rounded off the regular season of the Vanarama National League North with a comprehensive 1-3 win on the road at Peterborough Sports on Saturday afternoon to earn themselves a midweek playoff eliminator home tie with Curzon Ashton.
The Magpies started the game slowly with neither side able to get a real foothold in the game in the opening 20 minutes, eventual chances from Frankie Maguire and Justin Johnson coming on the half-hour mark where both forced Peter Crook into action in goal.
Persistence in attack eventually dividends before the break, MARK ELLIS heading home powerfully from Adam Blakeman's pinpoint free-kick before MAGUIRE doubling the advantage in stoppage time - half-volleying it after Crook parried it out into his path just inside the box.
Mark Ellis heads in the opener for Chorley against Peterborough Sports (David Airey)
Two goals quickly became three after the restart, CARLTON UBAEZUONU adding to the scoresheet after some excellent initial play from Johnson down the left to then turn provider with a superb cross to find the formers' head to bury it from six-yards out to claim his 15th league goal of the campaign.
The hosts had their goalkeeper to thank for keeping the scoreline at three-nil in the latter stages, an unbelievable stop denying Ubaezuonu after an excellent free-flowing move from back to front.
Michael Gash's side would go on to grab a consolation goal late on, Dan Jarvis curling an effort smartly past Urwin to leave the Magpies without a clean sheet but with the all important playoff eliminator to come at home next Wednesday against Curzon Ashton.
Peterborough Sports: Crook, Tootle (Meyer, 54'), Ahui, Fryatt, Johnson, McCammon (Pereira, 66'), Jones, Jarvis, Alban-Jones, Gash (Hickinson, 77'), McAuley
Chorley: Urwin, Henley (Whitehouse, 54'), Ellis, Wilson, Blakeman, Calveley, Maguire, Hazlehurst (Moyo, 77'), Ubaezuonu, Sampson (Horbury, 60'), Johnson.
Goalscorers: Ellis (40'), Maguire (45+3'), Ubaezuonu (48'), Jarvis (90+2').
Cautions: Wilson (6'), Calveley (6'), Crook (45+2'), Pereira (83').
Referee: Michael Robertson-Tant.
Assistants: James Wetherall & Shaun Barry.
Attendance: 497.
Up Next: We're back at HOME this Wednesday to take on Curzon Ashton in the playoff eliminator - a 7:45pm kick off.
