Words: Ewan Murray, Image: David Airey
CHORLEY fought valiantly from behind three times to claim a deserved 3-3 draw away to Chester on Saturday afternoon.
Goals from Anjola Popoola, Mike Calveley and a stoppage time own-goal by Chester goalkeeper George Murray-Jones, were enough to cancel out a Matt Urwin own-goal and finishes from both Declan Weeks and Dion Kelly-Evans.
The Seals got broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute, Pat Jones was played in behind and his shot cannoned off the post and unfortunately bounced off of Urwin's face before trickling over the line.
Chorley bounced back 10 minutes later though, and Calveley worked brilliantly down the right flank before releasing a good cross into the box, this met the head of Popoola who glanced his header excellently into the far bottom corner.
Calum McIntye's side regained the lead on the hour mark, following a corner the ball was headed away by Scott Wilson, and it fell kindly to Weeks on the edge of the box who met the ball on the volley and finished with aplomb into the bottom corner leaving Urwin with no chance.
Going behind a second time, brought another fight from the visitors, though, eventually getting their second goal in the 77th minute, a brilliant cross by substitute Jack Moore was met at the back post by Calveley whose powerful header flew past Murray-Jones to draw the Magpies back level again.
The same pattern again repeated itself though,, Chester taking the lead for the third time in the game just a few minutes later, a cross by Pat Jones was met at the front post by Kelly-Evans who could not miss.
Chorley kept on battling though, and in the 94th minute they got their reward, substitute Adam Blakeman’s corner was swung straight towards Murray-Jones who inadvertently punched the ball into his own goal, which was enough for both sides to come away with a point.
Elsewhere there was a golden chance in the 55th minute when Tom Carr broke in behind, his effort forced the keeper to parry the ball straight to Harry Ibbitson, the striker on loan from Bradford City could not make a clear connection with the ball though and a huge chance went begging.
Chorley’s attentions will now turn to next Saturday’s game against Darlington, the first game back at the Grant Store Victory Park Stadium in 2026.
