Words: Ewan Murray, Image: David Airey
CHORLEY were made to battle for a very entertaining 2-2 draw against Scarborough Athletic on Tuesday Evening at the Grant Store Victory Park Stadium.
The first real opportunity of the game fell to the visitors, as fullback Alex Brown was played down the Seadogs left hand side, his shot straight at Matt Urwin in goal.
In the 19th minute, Boro hit the front first, following some great play in the middle of the park, the ball found it way to Luca Colville out wide, who played the ball across goal to Stephen Walker who could not miss.
In the 37th minute however, the Magpies got themselves level, following a robust challenge on Mark Ellis, Adam Blakeman found himself over a free-kick around 30-yards from goal. The set-piece specialist perfectly curling the ball into the back of the net with Ryan Whitley in goal having no chance whatsoever.
Then just a few minutes later, Chorley took the lead, a long throw by Blakeman was initially met by Ellis and then following a scramble in the six-yard box, Tom Carr was on hand to tuck the ball into the back of the net.
However, right on the stroke of half-time, the visitors had an opportunity to draw level from the spot, following a foul by Harvey Smith in the box, Walker stepped up and slotted his penalty past Urwin to get his second of the game.
Straight after the interval, Scarborough were on top, a free-kick by Colville eventually resulted in a good reaction save by Urwin.
In the 64th minute a short corner by Blakeman to Craig Hewitt allowed the substitute to cross the ball towards Ellis, who headed straight at Whitley.
The Magpies pressed on and a deep cross by Blakeman was put back into the box by Smith, Ellis with another chance however, his effort this time was well blocked.
The Seadogs were also not relenting, though, as following some great play by Harry Green, releasing Richie Bennett, who played the ball to Walker, he tucked it away, however the linesman’s flag was up, and the game remained at 2-2.
The visitors had yet another chance in the 87th minute as a corner by Lewis Maloney met the head of Jake Hull who hit the crossbar, and the following effort was headed off the line by a Chorley defender.
Very late on however, Chorley thought they had won it when debutant Tom Walker put the ball in Scarborough’s net, only for referee Callum Jones to blow up for a foul in the build up to it.
The Magpies, still unbeaten so far this campaign, will now turn their attention to Saturday’s game away to Hereford.
